Over-distraction of the radio-carpal and mid-carpal joints following external fixation of comminuted distal radial fractures.

Seven patients with Frykman type 7 and 8 distal radial fractures, who had been treated with external fixation, were noted to have significant over-distraction of 5-8 mm in the radio-carpal and mid-carpal joints. One patient, who also had abnormal negative ulnar variance of 2 mm, had a fair result using modified Gartland and Werly (1951) criteria. The remaining six patients had good results, indicating that over-distraction does not significantly alter the final outcome, so long as a normal distal radio-ulnar relationship is maintained.