COMPARISON OF THE SURGICAL OUTCOMES OF VARIABLE ANGLE LOCKING COMPRESSION PLATING AND LIGAMENTOTAXIS FOR INTRA-ARTICULAR DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURES: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY AT A RURAL TEACHING HOSPITAL IN INDIA

Background: Distal radius fracture are quite common,with an aging population (due to osteoporosis) and an increase in outdoor activity (higher energy fractures) being possible reasons for the increasing frequency of such injuries. Although many distal radius fractures are treated conservatively, around 20 percent of cases require surgery. The surgical management of distal radius fractures has changed over the last 30 years from the use of cast immobilization to various surgical techniques, some of which involve volar locking devices and external fixation. Aim: To compare the efficacies of ligamentotaxis and variable-angle locking compression plating for the treatment of intra-articular distal radius fractures. Methodology: A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted among 40 patients who had undergone elective ligamentotaxis (group A, which consisted of 20 patients) or variable-angle locking compression plating (group B which also consisted of 20 patients) for intra-articular distal radius fractures at the Department of Orthopaedics, R.L. Jalappa Hospital, Tamaka, Kolar, Karnataka, India. Results: Males outnumbered females in both groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the considered variable scores 6 months after surgery. Patients in group A (patients who had undergone elective ligamentotaxis) exhibited better outcomes compared to those in group B (patients who had undergone variable-angle locking compression plating). Conclusion: For comminuted intra-articular and unstable extra-articular wrist injuries, external fixation and ligamentotaxis yield superior functional and anatomical outcomes. The functional outcome of treating distal radius fractures depends on the concomitant soft tissue injuries and articular damage, as well as the degree to which anatomical repair of the articular surface is successful.