A comparative study of Kirschner wire intramedullary fixation versus bicortical fixation for metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction fractures of the pediatric distal radius.
- 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University, No.339 Liuting Street, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315012, China. [email protected].
- 2Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University, No.339 Liuting Street, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315012, China.
Abstract
Background
This study compared the clinical efficacy of closed reduction with Kirschner wire (K-wire) intramedullary fixation versus bicortical fixation for pediatric distal radius metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction (MDJ) fractures.Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 61 children with closed distal radius MDJ fractures admitted to the Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University between May 2021 and November 2024. Patients were divided into two groups according to the K-wire fixation method: intramedullary fixation group (IFG, 32 cases; K-wire without contralateral cortical penetration) and bicortical fixation group (BFG, 29 cases; K-wire with contralateral cortical penetration). We compared surgical time, fracture healing time, 6-month postoperative wrist function, and complication rates between groups.Results
All 61 procedures achieved successful closed reduction; mean follow-up was 15.3 months (range: 6-24 months). Baseline data were comparable between groups. Surgical time did not differ significantly. Fracture healing time was shorter in the IFG. There were no significant differences in 6-month postoperative wrist function or overall complication rate between groups, although the complication rate was markedly lower in the IFG. No vascular, nerve, or tendon injuries, nonunions, or premature physeal closures occurred in either group during the follow-up period.Conclusions
Closed reduction with K-wire fixation is an effective treatment for pediatric distal radius MDJ fractures. Compared with bicortical K-wire fixation, intramedullary K-wire fixation offers advantages including shorter fracture healing time and a trend toward a lower complication rate.
Related
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- Robot-assisted navigation combined with a double reverse traction reduction frame for retrograde intramedullary nailing of extra-articular distal femoral fractures: a retrospective comparative cohort study
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BibTeX
@article{xu2026comparative,
title = {{A comparative study of Kirschner wire intramedullary fixation versus bicortical fixation for metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction fractures of the pediatric distal radius.}},
author = {Zhenhua Xu and Yancai Yang and Qi Chen},
journal = {BMC musculoskeletal disorders},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12891-026-10316-y},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958249},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A comparative study of Kirschner wire intramedullary fixation versus bicortical fixation for metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction fractures of the pediatric distal radius.
AU - Zhenhua Xu
AU - Yancai Yang
AU - Qi Chen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/04
JO - BMC musculoskeletal disorders
DO - 10.1186/s12891-026-10316-y
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958249
AB - Background This study compared the clinical efficacy of closed reduction with Kirschner wire (K-wire) intramedullary fixation versus bicortical fixation for pediatric distal radius metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction (MDJ) fractures.Methods We retrospectively analyzed 61 children with closed distal radius MDJ fractures admitted to the Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University between May 2021 and November 2024. Patients were divided into two groups according to the K-wire fixation method: intramedullary fixation group (IFG, 32 cases; K-wire without contralateral cortical penetration) and bicortical fixation group (BFG, 29 cases; K-wire with contralateral cortical penetration). We compared surgical time, fracture healing time, 6-month postoperative wrist function, and complication rates between groups.Results All 61 procedures achieved successful closed reduction; mean follow-up was 15.3 months (range: 6-24 months). Baseline data were comparable between groups. Surgical time did not differ significantly. Fracture healing time was shorter in the IFG. There were no significant differences in 6-month postoperative wrist function or overall complication rate between groups, although the complication rate was markedly lower in the IFG. No vascular, nerve, or tendon injuries, nonunions, or premature physeal closures occurred in either group during the follow-up period.Conclusions Closed reduction with K-wire fixation is an effective treatment for pediatric distal radius MDJ fractures. Compared with bicortical K-wire fixation, intramedullary K-wire fixation offers advantages including shorter fracture healing time and a trend toward a lower complication rate.
SN - 1471-2474
ER -