Interest of wrist arthroscopy for the treatment of intra articular distal radius fractures : about a series of 28 patients

We report our results of treatment of intra articular distal radiusfractures assisted by wrist arthroscopy. Twenty eight patients (15men and 13 women) were treated using this technique. All patientswere operated on under regional anaesthesia, the elbow flexed to90°, and in-line traction applied using “Japanese” fingers traps (4 to6 kg). After articular cleansing, reduction under arthroscopic andfluoroscopic control was carried out using K- wires. All fractureswere intra articular. In seven cases of fractures with four fragments,it was necessary to combine a volar plate with the K-wires. Therewere 19 associated injuries (six TFCC tears, four lunotriquetralligament injuries and ten scapholunate injuries of which sixnecessitated pinning).Our average follow- up time was 23 months (9-36 months). Therewas absence of pain in 27 cases and the results were good for wristmotion and strength. We did not experience any severe secondarydisplacement. Seventeen excellent, seven good, three average andone poor results were obtained. The quality of these functional andanatomical results seems to be directly linked to the quality ofreduction obtained under arthroscopy and the quality of internalfixation carried out under wrist traction.