Functionality of Fractures Distal Radius Joints Treated with Volar Plate Versus Fixator External: Evidence from A Regional Hospital in Veracruz, Mexico

Background : Distal radius fractures are among the most common upper-limb injuries, and their treatment plays a key role in restoring wrist function . Two common surgical methods —volar locking plate and external fixator — remain under debate regarding functional superiority in the early postoperative Period . Objective : To compare functional outcomes of intra-articular distal radius fractures treated with volar locking plate versus external fixation in a regional hospital in Mexico Methods : Comparative observational study including 136 surgically treated patients evaluated using the PRWE scale at 6 weeks and 3 months postoperatively Results : At 6 weeks , the external fixator group had a mean PRWE score of 87.41 compared with 56.85 in the volar plate group . In 3 months , scores improved but differences remained significant (36.84 vs 25.82; p < 0.001). Conclusion : The volar locking plate provides faster and superior early functional recovery compared with external fixation . External fixation remains useful for selected cases but tends to show slower functional improvement .