An external fixation device that allows motion of the wrist was
developed for the treatment of severely comminuted intra-articular
fractures of the distal end of the radius, and in specimens from cadavera
that motion was demonstrated with the device in place. Thirty patients who
had thirty-two comminuted intra-articular radial fractures were then
treated with fixation using this device during a six-month interval.
Thirty-one of the wrists were examined at follow-up one and two years
later. The first fifteen wrists that were allowed full flexion and
extension immediately postoperatively had lost some volar tilt
postoperatively. The other patients, for whom only flexion was allowed
immediately postoperatively, while extension was allowed four weeks later,
did not lose volar tilt. The device maintained the reduction of the
fracture fragments and allowed the early return of a functional range of
motion of the wrist.