Purpose: A malunion with a step-off of 1 mm or more after an intra-articular distal radius fracture may cause pain and arthritic changes at midterm follow-up. We present our technique for treating intra-articular distal radius malunions by carrying out an osteotomy from inside the joint outward under arthroscopic guidance using the dry arthroscopy technique, with emphasis on the clinical and radiologic outcomes.
Methods: We performed surgery on 11 patients for intra-articular malunion of the distal radius 1 to 5 months after the injury. Preoperative step-offs ranged from 2 to 5 mm (average, 2.5 mm) on plain radiographs. Original fracture patterns involved 1 radial styloid fracture, 1 radiocarpal fracture-dislocation, and 9 comminuted intra-articular fractures. In 5 cases an anterior-ulnar or radial styloid fragment was repositioned. In the rest, more than 1 fragment (up to 3) was osteotomized. In 1 patient the articular osteotomy was combined with an ulnar shortening osteotomy.
Results: Follow-up ranged from 12 to 48 months. Step-offs were reduced in most cases to 0 mm; however, localized gaps (<2 mm) and cartilage defects were commonly seen intraoperatively because the fragments did not accurately fit. According to the Gartland and Werley score, there were 4 excellent and 7 good results (mean score of 2.8). The Modified Green and O'Brien system achieved a mean score of 83, with 3 excellent, 5 good, and 3 fair results. One patient showed radiolunate narrowing on follow-up radiographs.
Conclusions: Arthroscopically assisted osteotomy permits direct visualization of the osteotomy site with good midterm clinical and radiologic outcomes. The technique can be used in irregularly defined fragments.
Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic IV.
Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.