Repurposing Spinal Distractor to Reduce Pediatric Wrist Fractures

Abstract

Fracture geometry, particularly a jagged bone spike, can present a physical barrier in closed reduction of pediatric distal radius-ulna fractures. When closed reduction of the fracture is not possible, accepting an incomplete reduction and hoping for remodeling, or open reduction, which poses a greater risk for infection and potential physeal injury, are alternative treatment options. The objective of this study was to describe a technique, coined as Percutaneous Skeletal Traction Aided Reduction (P_STAR), for reducing these fractures, thereby eliminating the acceptance of an incomplete reduction and the risks associated with open reduction. In P_STAR, 2 distraction pins are placed 1.5 cm proximal and distal to the fracture site in clearance of the distal radial physis. A shadow-line spinal distractor is then used to distract the pins, reducing the fracture over the irregular impeding fracture geometry. After distraction is released, 1 or 2 K-wires can be percutaneously inserted to transfix the fracture. A video of the technique was also included as Supplemental Digital Content, http://links.lww.com/BTH/A188 . When performed on 18 children with distal radius-ulna fractures, P_STAR achieved near anatomic fracture alignment with no nerve or tendon injury, infection, or refracture.