Purpose External fixation and open reduction and internal fixation have been the traditional techniques for surgical fixation of unstable distal radius fractures. The existing literature has not identified which is superior, primarily because of the lack of comparative trials. We performed a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the current literature on external fixation and internal fixation of distal radius fractures to determine the dominant strategy based on available scientific evidence. Methods We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for English-language articles published between 1980 and 2004 that satisfied predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The outcomes of internal and external fixation were compared using continuous measures of grip strength, wrist range of motion, and radiographic alignment and categoric measures of pain, physician-rated outcome scales, and complication rates. Outcomes were pooled by random-effects meta-analysis and meta–regression analysis was used to control for patient age, presence of intra-articular fracture, duration of follow-up period, and date of publication. Sensitivity analyses were used to test the stability of the meta-analysis results under different assumptions. Results Forty-six articles were included in the review with 28 (917 patients) external fixation studies and 18 (603 patients) internal fixation studies. Meta-analysis did not detect clinically or statistically significant differences in pooled grip strength, wrist range of motion, radiographic alignment, pain, and physician-rated outcomes between the 2 treatment arms. There were higher rates of infection, hardware failure, and neuritis with external fixation and higher rates of tendon complications and early hardware removal with internal fixation. Considerable heterogeneity was present in all studies and adversely affected the precision of the meta-analysis. Conclusions The current literature offers no evidence to support the use of internal fixation over external fixation for unstable distal radius fractures. Comparative trials using appropriately sensitive and validated outcome measurements are needed to guide treatment decisions.

A Meta-Analysis of Outcomes of External Fixation Versus Plate Osteosynthesis for Unstable Distal Radius Fractures

Distal radius fractures are a common injury, particularly in the elderly population. Severity of these fractures is directly related to the bone mineral density of the patient, and clinical results are dependent on this parameter as well. In terms of treatment, several options exist. Nonoperative management consists of closed treatment with casting. Operative treatment options include intrafocal pinning, nonbridging and bridging external fixation, arthroscopic-assisted external fixation, and various methods of open reduction internal fixation. When operative intervention is indicated, considerations include the characteristics of the fracture and the experience of the surgeon with the treatment modalities.

http://handtherapyhub.com/fractureU_CSM/docs/2013Readings/Liporace2009.pdf

Distal radius fractures.

With an incidence of about 2–4 per 1,000 residents per year, the distal radial fracture is the most common fracture in the human skeleton. The introduction of fixed-angle plate systems for extension fractures at the radius was evaluated in a prospective study performed at our hospital after selection and acquisition of a new system. The focus of our interest was whether a secondary loss of reduction can be avoided by this plating system. We reviewed 80 patients treated for unstable distal radius fractures using a volar fixed-angle plate. Postoperative management included immediate finger motion, early functional use of the hand, a wrist splint used for 4 weeks and physiotherapy. Standard radiographic and clinical fracture parameters after 12 months (range 12–14 months) were measured and final functional results where assessed. Bone healing had occurred in all patients at the time of follow-up after 1 year. On X-rays taken at the time of follow-up 60 patients (75%) had no radial shortening, 20 patients (25%) had a mean radial shortening of only 1.8 mm (range 1–3 mm) compared to the contralateral side. The radial tilt was on average 22° (range 14°–36°); the volar tilt was on average 6° (range 0°–18°). Comparing the first postoperative X-rays with those taken at final evaluation showed no measureable loss of reduction in the volar or radial tilt. Castaing’s score, which includes the radiographic results, yielded a perfect outcome in 30 cases, a good outcome in 49 cases and an adequate outcome in one case. The range of motion was on average reduced by 21% during extension/flexion, by 11% during radial/ulnardeviation and by 7% in pronation and supination compared to the contralateral side. Grip strength was 65% that of the contralateral side. The mean DASH score was 25 points. Fixed-angle plate osteosynthesis at the distal radius signifies a significant improvement in the treatment of distal radial fractures in terms of restoration of the shape and function of the wrist. The technically simple palmar access, with a low rate of complications, allows exact anatomical reduction of the fracture. The multidirectional fixed-angle system we used provides solid support for the joint surface even in osteoporotic bone and allows simple subchondral placement of screws with sustained retention of the outcome of reduction. Secondary correction loss can be avoided by this procedure. Early mobilisation can be achieved and is recommended.

Volar fixed-angle plate osteosynthesis of unstable distal radius fractures: 12 months results

Purpose To compare the biomechanic stability of distal radius fracture fixation with a new internal radiocarpal-spanning 2.4-mm locking plate, which acts as an internal distal radius fixator, versus a standard distal radius external fixator. The number of locking screws necessary for adequate fracture fixation was also assessed. Methods Ten cadaveric specimens were mounted in a loading fixture with cables attached to the 2 flexor and 3 extensor wrist tendons. A 1-cm osteotomy was created to simulate an unstable distal radius fracture. The radiocarpal-spanning locking plate was fixed to the radius and index metacarpal with 4 screws proximally and 4 distally. The specimen was incrementally loaded through the tendons. Motion at the fracture site was determined. Screws were sequentially removed from the construct, the specimen was again incrementally loaded, and fracture motion was measured. The fixation was then changed to an external fixator, and the loading tests were repeated. Results Fracture fixation with the radiocarpal-spanning 2.4-mm locking plate was significantly more stable with 4 screws proximally and 4 screws distally (4 × 4) and with the 3 × 3 configuration than with the external fixator in both flexion and extension. The 4 × 4 screw configuration was not significantly different from the 3 × 3 screw configuration. The 4 × 4 screw configuration was significantly more stable than the 2 × 2 and 1 × 1 screw configurations in both flexion and extension. All internal fixator configurations and the external fixator showed more fracture displacement at increasingly higher loads. Conclusions Fracture fixation with the new internal radiocarpal-spanning 2.4-mm locking plate is more stable than with a standard distal radius external fixator. Only three 2.4-mm locking screws proximally and three 2.4-mm locking screws distally are required for adequate fixation of the locking spanning plate.

A biomechanic comparison of an internal radiocarpal-spanning 2.4-mm locking plate and external fixation in a model of distal radius fractures.

The purpose of this study was to determine the most appropriate surgical treatment from three procedures used for fractures of the distal radius. In a retrospective comparative study, 166 out of 237 patients who underwent surgery for AO/ASIF A3 or C2 distal radius fractures were evaluated. Surgical procedures were external fixation or open reduction and internal fixation with either palmar or dorsal plates. Radiological outcomes were palmar tilt, radial angle, radial length and ulnar variance. Functional outcomes were range of motion and grip strength. In addition, outcomes according to Gartland and Werley and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire were compared. Further outcome criteria were the treatment time and the number of complications. Data were analysed using an analysis of variance statistical procedure respective of the chi2-test. Open reduction and internal fixation, in particular palmar plate fixation, demonstrated the best radiological and functional results. Subjective assessment of ORIF proved better than that of external fixation as treatment time was shorter and complications were more rarely seen. However, most of the differences between groups were not significant. Although there were no significant differences between groups, our data indicates that most dorsally displaced distal radius fractures can be treated successfully by open reduction and internal fixation. Palmar plate fixation seems to have slight advantages compared to both the external fixation and dorsal plate fixation surgical procedure.

Outcome after surgery of distal radius fractures: no differences between external fixation and ORIF

From January 1989 until October 1993, 102 patients with 103 distal radius fractures were included in a prospective study with the Pennig wrist fixator (Orthofix, Srl, Italy). 90.5% of these patients were reviewed with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Using the functional outcome score according to Gartland and Werley, we obtained 41% excellent, 46% good, 10% fair and 3% poor results. Additional procedures such as K-wires, bone grafting or radio-ulnar stabilizations were carried out in 61% of cases. The complications included five fixator displacements, four of which happened with the prototype used until the first half of 1990. Two major pin-track-infections required surgical intervention, three patients in the beginning of the series encountered irritations of the superficial radial nerve, one pin cut out of the second metacarpal bone and one patient sustained algodystrophy. The results show the significance of an anatomical reduction, the restoration of the radial length seems to be of special importance to obtain good functional outcome. This can not always be achieved with the fixator alone; often additional procedures are required in order to obtain an anatomical joint reconstruction. The advantage of this fixator lies in its lightweight and small-size design as well as in its easy application technique and the possibility to carry out the reduction after mounting the fixator with the double ball joint centered on the fracture level and the carpus.

Results of transarticular fixator application in distal radius fractures.

External skeletal fixation is an important minimal invasive procedure in the management of fractures at the distal end of the radius. Attention to detail is important not only in the recognition of indications and function of the external fixator but also in its specific application. To improve anatomical restoration (e.g. palmar tilt) multi-planar ligamentotaxis is recommended. The demonstrated dynamic fixator is easy to apply and the double ball joint facilitates reduction after mounting by multi-planar ligamentotaxis. This transarticular unilateral external fixation system permits restoration of anatomy with the wrist in neutral or extension, thereby allowing full flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joints, with fingers and wrist extensor tendons relatively relaxed. Multi-planar ligamentotaxis, combined with a limited approach for supplementary procedures (fixation of articular fragments and/or bone grafting) and with early wrist motion, offers an encouraging treatment option in the management of unstable distal radial fractures by providing better anatomical restoration, especially of the palmar tilt and reduces the risk of wrist and finger stiffness.

Reduction techniques in distal radius fractures.

Behandlung und Prognose der distalen Radiusfraktur

Deep learning techniques are increasingly being used to classify medical imaging data with high accuracy. Despite this, due to often limited training data, these models can lack sufficient generalizability to predict unseen test data, produced in a different domain, with comparable performance. This study focuses on thyroid histopathology image classification and investigates whether a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), trained with just 156 patient samples, can produce high quality synthetic images to sufficiently augment training data and improve overall model generalizability. Utilizing a StyleGAN2-ADA approach, the generative network produced images with an FID score of 5.05, matching state-of-the-art GAN results in non-medical domains with comparable dataset sizes. Augmenting the training data with these GAN-generated images increased model generalizability significantly when tested on external data, improving overall accuracy and F1 scores by 36% and 42% respectively. Most importantly, this performance improvement was observed on minority class images, tumour subtypes which are known to suffer from high levels of inter-observer variability when classified by trained pathologists.

/pdf/histopathological-domain-adaptation-with-generative-3v4zd8fy.pdf

Histopathological Domain Adaptation with Generative Adversarial Networks Bridging the Domain Gap Between Thyroid Cancer Histopathology Datasets

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Papers

Results of transarticular fixator application in distal radius fractures.

Reduction techniques in distal radius fractures.

Behandlung und Prognose der distalen Radiusfraktur

Histopathological Domain Adaptation with Generative Adversarial Networks Bridging the Domain Gap Between Thyroid Cancer Histopathology Datasets