Effects of surgical and nonoperative treatment on wrist function of patients with distal radius fracture

PURPOSE: To study the effects of surgical and nonoperative treatment on wrist function in patients with distal radius fracture. METHODS: In total, 97 patients treated for distal radius fracture in the Department of Orthopedic Trauma at the People's Hospital of Peking University from Jan. 2010 to Jun. 2016 were selected for outpatient follow-up, including manipulative reduction and dorsal splint fixation in 24 cases, bivalve cast fixation in 19 cases and open reduction and internal fixation in 54 cases. Evaluation was based on Sartiento's modification of the Gartland and Werley score. Efficacy was assessed with wrist pain as the focus. RESULTS: The wrist function scores of the surgical group were better than nonoperative groups. There was no significant difference in wrist function scores between the dorsal splint group and the bivalve cast group. The ulnar wrist pain incidence had no significant difference in surgical and nonoperative groups. The displace rate in dorsal splint group was higher than other groups. CONCLUSION: The overall effect of surgical treatment of distal radius fracture is better than nonoperative treatment. The ulnar wrist pain incidence has no significant difference in these groups. Dorsal splint fixation is more prone to displace than bivalve cast fixation.