Dorsal nail plate versus percutaneous k-wire fixation in the treatment of displaced distal radius fractures.

Distal radius fractures are the most common fractures in the elderly, yet the treatment is controversial and still debated in the literature. Twenty four patients aged older than sixty with distal radial fractures were treated by dorsal nail plate. We compared them with twenty four similar matched patients treated by percutaneous Kirschner wiring surgical method. The patients were operated on by a surgeon experienced in carrying out hand surgery. The purpose of this retrospective review was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes in elderly patients with displaced distal radial fractures who were treated with either the dorsal nail plate or percutaneous Kirschner wiring surgical procedures. Both groups had high union rates and low complication rates for the treatment of displaced distal radius fractures in elderly patients. However, better functional results can be expected in dorsal nail plate.