OBJECTIVETo compare and analyze the clinical effects of external fixator and small splint fixator in the treatment of comminuted distal radius fracture in senile.

METHODSFrom 2005.6 to 2008.6, 74 senile patients (82 sides) with comminuted distal radius fractures were divided into external fixation group (34 cases 38 sides, 27 males and 7 females, with an average of 70.05 +/- 3.70 years) and small splint fixation group (40 cases 44 sides, 29 males and 11 females, with an average of 70.30 +/- 3.48 years). The loss of volar tilting angle and ulnar inclination angle after reduction and the function scores of carpal joint after removing the fixators were compared.

RESULTSOne week after surgery, there was loss of volar tilting angle and ulnar inclination in small splint fixation (P < 0.01), and one month after removing the external fixator, the loss of angle was more obvious (P < 0.01); while the loss of angle in external fixation group was not significant (P > 0.05). After one month of removing the fixation, the functional score of wrist joint in external fixation group was obviously higher than that of the small splint fixation group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe external fixator can be adopted to treat comminuted distal radius fractures in senile, which is able to decrease the reduction loss and helpful to functional recovery.