INDIRECT REDUCTION AND PERCUTANEOUS FIXATION LED TO A RAPID RECOVERY AND BETTER FUNCTION THAN OPEN REDUCTION FOR INTRA-ARTICULAR FRACTURES OF THE DISTAL END OF THE RADIUS.

The article addresses the question of how indirect reduction and percutaneous fixation compare with open reduction and internal fixation in patients with displaced intra-articular fractures of the distal end of the radius. A randomized, unblinded, controlled trial with 24-month followup was conducted. It involve two medical centers in the United States and one in Canada. It was concluded that in patients with displaced intraarticular fractures of the distal end of the radius, indirect reduction with percutaneous fixation led to a more rapid return of grip strength and a better functional outcome than did open reduction and internal fixation.