Effect of Different Splints on Displacement after Closed Reduction of the Distal Radius Fractures: A Comparison of Short Arm Double Splint and Sugar-Tong Splint

Lee,  Jae Hoon; Hong,  Se Hyuck; Kim,  Young Joon; Back,  Jong Hun; Lee,  Jung Suck

doi:2015.20.3.104

Arch Hand Microsurg > Volume 20(3); 2015 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 2015;20(3):104-109.
Published online September 30, 2015.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12790/jkssh.2015.20.3.104

Effect of Different Splints on Displacement after Closed Reduction of the Distal Radius Fractures: A Comparison of Short Arm Double Splint and Sugar-Tong Splint

Jae Hoon Lee, Se Hyuck Hong, Young Joon Kim, Jong Hun Back, Jung Suck Lee

¹Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea. ljhos69@naver.com
²Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyung Hee Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Received: 17 June 2015 • Revised: 30 July 2015 • Accepted: 15 August 2015

Abstract

Purpose
This study was to compare short arm double splint allowing forearm rotation with sugar tong splint in terms of loss of reduction and incidence of shoulder stiffness after closed reduction of the distal radius factures.

Methods
From June 2012 to February 2013, we retrospectively reviewed patients with distal radius fractures applied short arm double splint or sugar tong splint after closed reduction. Patients with more than 18 years old, acceptable reduction in X-ray and followed up at least 4 weeks were enrolled. Short arm double splint (SD) group was applied in 47 cases and sugar tong splint (ST) group was 34 cases. Gender, age and fracture types were not significantly different between two groups. The radiographic parameters were measured for palmar tilt, articular step-off, radial length, radial inclination, ulnar variance. The incidence and time of the reduction loss were also evaluated. In functional outcomes, the occurence of ipsilateral shoulder stiffness and the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score were evaluated with the medical records or telephone questionnaires at 6 months after initial trauma.

Results
Loss of reduction was occured 16 cases in SD group (34%) and 10 cases in ST group (29.4%), which did not differ significantly between the groups (p=0.169). The DASH score and shoulder stiffness were not statistically different between two groups.

Conclusion
There was no significant difference in loss of reduction after closed reduction of distal radius fractures and functional outcomes in both groups.