Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (21): 4602-4611.doi: 10.12307/2025.812

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Meta-analysis of external stent fixation and internal plate fixation for treatment of comminuted distal radius fractures

Lin Qing1, Liu Huan2, Cheng Yongzhong3, Jiang Junjie2, Li Yongyao3, Li Guangyao1   

  1. 1Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100020, China; 2Institute of Clinical Basic Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100010, China; 3First Department of Trauma, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100020, China
  • Received:2024-04-10 Accepted:2024-07-06 Online:2025-07-28 Published:2024-12-07
  • Contact: Cheng Yongzhong, Doctoral supervisor, Chief physician, First Department of Trauma, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100020, China
  • About author:Lin Qing, Master candidate, Physician, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100020, China
  • Supported by:
    Research and Transformation Application of Clinical Characteristic Diagnosis and Treatment Technology in Capital, No. Z221100007422075 (to CYZ); Special Project Independently Selected by Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. WJYY-ZZXT-2022-10 (to CYZ); Key Project of Science and Technology Innovation Project of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No. CI2021A02008 (to CYZ) 

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: External fixators and plate internal fixation are commonly used treatments for comminuted distal radius fractures, each with its own advantages and disadvantages in clinical practice. To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of external fixator and plate internal fixation in the treatment of comminuted distal radius fractures, and to provide a basis for the development of guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of distal radius fractures with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. 
METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biomedical Literature Database, VIP, and WanFang databases were systematically searched to include randomized controlled trials on external fixators and internal plate fixation for the treatment of comminuted distal radial fractures published from October 2013 to October 2023. The literature was screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Review Manager was used for literature quality evaluation and meta-analysis.
RESULTS: (1) Eight articles were included, including 4 in Chinese and 4 in English, with a total sample size of 648 cases, including 328 cases in the external fixation stent group and 320 cases in the internal fixation plate group. (2) At 3 months after operation, the internal fixation plate group was superior to the external fixation stent group in the range of dorsal extension, palmar flexion and supination. At 12 months after operation, the grip strength, palmar inclination, palmar flexion, pronation and supination in the internal fixation plate group were better than those in the external fixation stent group. The postoperative infection in the internal fixation plate group was better than that in the external fixation stent group, and there was no statistical difference in other outcome indicators.
CONCLUSION: Eight evidences showed that in the choice of treatment for comminuted distal radius fracture, both external fixation stent and incision plate internal fixation had good therapeutic effect, and plate internal fixation was better than other factors. However, for some special patients with highly severe comminuted distal radius fractures, poor bone quality, severely contaminated open fractures, and soft tissue swelling that did not allow incision surgery, external fixation was the first choice. The results of this study have limitations, and more high-quality, large-sample, multi-center randomized controlled trials are needed in the future, emphasizing the observation of long-term efficacy and other secondary indicators, and supplementing and optimizing the current research results. 

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程

Key words: comminuted distal radius fracture, external fixator, internal fixation, clinical efficacy, security, meta-analysis

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