Intramedullary fixation of distal radius fracture: first study and preliminary report in Togo

Abstract

Objective: To describe the results of the internal fixation of FRD by intramedullary nail. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective single-center study with a prospective component conducted from February 2014 to December 2019. The study included 9 patients who were treated with locked intramedullary nailing (Nail-O-Flex® nail) for distal radius fractures. The lesions were classified according to the AO classification system. Radiological outcomes were assessed using the radiological score of Castaing. Functional outcomes were evaluated using Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores. Results: The sample consisted of 6 men and 3 women, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. The mean age was 46 years. Traffic accidents were the primary etiology, with a predominance of sports accidents among men. Type B1 injuries were most common according to the AO classification. Short-term radiological results were very good according to radiological indices. One poor result (11%) was noted according to the radiological scoring system. For functional assessment, the mean follow-up was 26.78 months, with patients reporting complete satisfaction (67%) and moderate satisfaction (33%). The average PRWE score was 7.89, and the average DASH score was 15.55. One case of stiffness (11%) was recorded as a complication. Conclusion: Surgical management of distal radius fractures by locked intramedullary nailing is minimally invasive and provides satisfactory results. However, assessment of outcomes in a larger sample would be beneficial to establish correlations between different factors influencing therapy and the prognosis of distal radius fractures.