Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Apr 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialArthroscopic debridement of the dorsal capsule in intraarticular distal radius fractures: does it provide superior outcomes?
Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are very common. One of the most significant complications after intraarticular DRF is arthrofibrosis with loss of wrist motion and pain. Wrist arthroscopy has become increasingly popular in the treatment of DRF with the advantage of good visualization of the joint surface and soft tissue injuries. In intraarticular DRFs injuries of the dorsal capsule are a characteristic finding which potentially cause loss of wrist motion. In this study, we investigated if arthroscopic debridement of dorsal capsule injuries at time of surgical fixation provides superior outcomes compared to the same treatment without debridement. ⋯ Debridement of the injured dorsal capsule in arthroscopic-assisted surgical treatment of intraarticular DRFs can improve surgical performance and optimize patient outcomes in a specific subgroup of patients.