OBJECTIVETo study the control of instability of paper splints for the treatment of Barton fractures.

METHODSFrom 1998 to 2007, 30 patients with Barton fractures were treated with manual reduction and external fixation with paper splints. Among the patients, 20 patients were male and 10 patients were female, ranging in age from 20 to 68 years, averaged 45.3 years. The course of the disease ranged from 1 to 15 hours, with a mean of 4.2 h. All the patients had a history of trauma. The X-rays showed palm-side distal radius fractures, fractured fragments displacing toward proximal palm and the radius bone sudislocating toward the palm. Anderson assessment method was adopted.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up ranging from 0.5 to 2 years (12.3 months on average). When clinical healing, the X-ray showed good position in 26 cases, and the fractured fragments on the palm side displaced 1 to 2.5 mm toward palm in 4 cases. Final results : the motion range and function of wrist and forearm recovered completely in 24 patients; the motion range and function of wrist and forearm were limited slightly without hindering daily life in 6 patients. According to Anderson assessment method, 24 patients got an excellent result and 6 good.

CONCLUSIONThis fixation method possesed such advantages as improving hematoma absorption, reinforcing fixation on the basis of original fixation at any time without pressure sore and necrosis, safe and effective.