STUDY OF OUTCOME OF RESULTS IN LIGAMENTOTAXIS WITH EXTERNALFIXATIONIN DISTALRADIUS FRACTURES

Introduction:External fixation for distal radius fractures relies on the principle of ligamentotaxisin which, a distraction force applied to the carpus, aligns the fragments by meansof intact ligaments. Distraction assisted reduction and maintenance of distalradius fracture is a widely used reliable treatment method. If the principles ofligamentotaxisareappliedrationallythefactorsthatcauseinstabilityareidentified clinically and managed surgically, and a satisfactory outcome can beexpected.

Methods:The present study was carried out in Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of MedicalSciencesfromDecember2021toJune2023.Thisstudyconsistsof30 patientswithfracture of distal radius treated with ligamentotaxis with external fixation and thereresults were analysed with pre operative and post operative radiographs and usingGartlandand werleys functionalevaluation scores.

Results:17%patientsachievedexcellentresultswithmildcomplicationsandnopainafter3months of the procedure,40% had good results, 33% had fair results,10% had poorresults,10%patientshad DRUJ Pain,7%hadDRUJ instability,13%hadPTI.

Conclusion:Thepresentstudyconcluded thattheexternalfixationandligamentotaxisprovedto be a very useful method for treating unstable distal radius fracture. Though aneffective method, it is not a solution for all the injuries as different patterns ofinjuriesneeddifferent treatmentprocedure.