Effectiveness of Percutaneous Pinning of Acute Partial Scapholunate Injury during Volar Locking Plating for Distal Radius Fractures: A Comparative Study of Pinning and Conservative Treatment

BACKGROUD: We hypothesized that concurrent temporary fixation of scapholunate ligament (SL) injury during volar locking plate (VLP) fixation of distal radius fractures (DRFs) would improve restoration outcomes based on both radiological and clinical results. Here, we performed a prospective, comparative study investigating the effectiveness of temporary percutaneous reduction/pinning during VLP fixation in DRFs. METHODS: The first 43 consecutive SL injuries were treated concurrently after VLP fixation by closed pinning (group 1); the next 36 consecutive injuries were treated nonoperatively (group 2). Patients were followed up for at least 5 years after treatment. Basic demographic data, radiological measurements, arthroscopic findings of SL injury, and other clinical outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 7.2 years. No significant differences in basic demographic data were evident between groups. Fracture patterns were not distinctively different between groups. The initial scapholunate angle measured immediately after surgery was 23° ± 3° in group 1 and 38° ± 13° in group 2, indicating a significantly hyperextended scaphoid position in group 1. The final scapholunate angles were also significantly different between groups although the final angle in group 2 (58° ± 11°) was within normal limits. Final visual analog scale scores, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores, Gartland and Werley system scores, and wrist motions were not different between groups; however, grip strength at the time of final follow-up was closer to that of the contralateral uninjured wrist in group 1. Arthrosis was less advanced in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Temporary fixation for SL injury with a DRF can be an effective option for the maintenance of scapholunate angle. The non-fixed group exhibited a more pronounced collapse of the scapholunate angle although the angle was still within normal limits, and clinical outcomes were similar between groups regardless of the fixation status.