A Study on Management of Comminuted Colles Fracture by Closed Reduction and Ulnocarpal Stabilisation with 2 K-Wires

Background – In comminuted Colles fractures treated by conventional method , malunion during healing due to progressive radial collapse is a common complication. Many modalities of treatment have been described with their merits and demerits. Ulnocarpal stabilization is an effective method to prevent radial collapse and hence this study. Materials And Methods – A prospective study of 100 patients of comminuted Colles fracture between 20-70 years age irrespective of sex treated by closed reduction and percutaneous stabilization of ulnocarpal articulation and above elbow POP cast for 6weeks has been presented. Patients were evaluated at 1 year follow up and functionally by Sarmiento’s modification of Lindstrom criteria and Gartland and Werley’s criteria. Results – Excellent to good results in 92%,fair in 4% and poor in 4% of total cases. Complications observed were malunion (n=6), pin tract infection (n=7), pullout of k-wire (n=5), sudeck’s osteodystrophy (n=7), residual pain (n=4),reduced grip strength (n=8) . Conclusion – Percutaneous pinnng by ulnocarpal stabilization is minimally invasive, yet an effective method to maintain the reduction and stability of distal radioulnar joint and radial collapse during healing ,even when the fracture is grossly comminuted ,intraarticular or unstable .