Intermediate-Term Outcome of 3-Dimensional Corrective Osteotomy for Malunited Distal Radius Fractures With a Mean Follow-Up of 6 Years

Sarvpreet Singh; Lukas Jud; Philipp Fürnstahl; Ladislav Nagy; Andreas Schweizer; Simon Roner

doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2021.07.018

Intermediate-Term Outcome of 3-Dimensional Corrective Osteotomy for Malunited Distal Radius Fractures With a Mean Follow-Up of 6 Years

J Hand Surg Am. 2022 Jul;47(7):691.e1-691.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2021.07.018. Epub 2021 Sep 8.

Authors

Sarvpreet Singh¹, Lukas Jud², Philipp Fürnstahl³, Ladislav Nagy², Andreas Schweizer², Simon Roner⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedics, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: sarvpreet.singh@balgrist.ch.
² Department of Orthopedics, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
³ Research in Orthopedic Computer Science (ROCS), University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Orthopedics, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland; Research in Orthopedic Computer Science (ROCS), University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.

PMID: 34507869
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2021.07.018

Abstract

Purpose: Our study aimed to analyze the functional and radiological intermediate-term outcome of 3-dimensional-guided corrective osteotomies for malunited distal radius fractures and to evaluate the progression of osteoarthritis after this intervention.

Methods: All patients with malunited distal radius fractures who underwent 3-dimensional-guided corrective osteotomies from October 2008 to January 2015 were included. Pre- and postoperative range of motion, grip strength, and postoperative patient-reported outcomes were assessed. Pre- and postoperative osteoarthritis grading was performed using conventional radiographs and the osteoarthritis grading system described by Knirk and Jupiter. Additionally, the evaluation of articular stepoff was performed using pre- and postoperative computed tomography.

Results: Fifteen patients, with a mean follow-up of 6 years (range, 4.1-10.4 years), were included. According to rater 1, 8 cases had no postoperative osteoarthritis progression, 6 cases had progression of 1 grade, and 1 case had progression of 2 grades. According to rater 2, there was no progression in 11 cases, and there was progression of 1 grade in 2 cases and progression of 2 grades in 2 cases. Compared with before the surgery, the patients demonstrated a mean improvement of 14.8 kg (±12.6 kg) in grip strength after the surgery. At the last follow-up, the mean Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation score was 11.8 (±12.0), the mean Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score was 11.1 (±11.4), and the mean residual pain score on the visual analog scale was 0.8 (±1.0).

Conclusions: The intermediate-term outcome of 3-dimensional-guided corrective osteotomies for distal radius intra-articular malunions showed excellent patient-reported outcomes and no clinically relevant progression of osteoarthritis.

Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic IV.

Keywords: 3-dimensional planning; computer-assisted surgery; corrective osteotomies; malunion; patient-specific instruments.

MeSH terms

Follow-Up Studies
Fractures, Malunited* / diagnostic imaging
Fractures, Malunited* / surgery
Humans
Osteoarthritis* / diagnostic imaging
Osteoarthritis* / surgery
Osteotomy / methods
Radius
Radius Fractures* / diagnostic imaging
Radius Fractures* / surgery
Range of Motion, Articular
Retrospective Studies
Treatment Outcome