Soner KOÇAK, Sabri Kerem DİRİL, Yunus ELMAS, Abdulkadir YALÇINKAYA, Yasin GENÇ, Gürkan ÇALIŞKAN, Adem ŞAHİN
Comprehensive Medicine - 2026;18(2):187-194
Objective: Extra-articular distal radius fractures are common injuries for which percutaneous kirschner wire fixation (PKW) and volar locking plate (VLP) fixation remain widely used surgical approaches. Despite their frequent application, the comparative effectiveness of these techniques-particularly regarding early postoperative recovery and long-term functional outcomes-continues to be debated. This study aimed to compare the clinical, functional, and radiological results of PKW versus VLP in adult patients with extra-articular distal radius fractures. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adult patients treated surgically for extra-articular distal radius fractures (AO/OTA 2R3A2-2R3A3) between 2017 and 2024. Patients were assigned to PKW or VLP based on the surgical approach. Demographic characteristics, postoperative pain, functional outcomes (DASH, PRWE), and radiographic parameters were evaluated. Postoperative measures were analyzed. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Sixty-two patients met the inclusion criteria (PKW: n=24; VLP: n=38). Early postoperative pain was significantly lower in the PKW group on day 1 (p<0.001), and hospital stay was shorter compared with VLP (p<0.001). By 6 weeks and at final follow-up, VAS scores were comparable. DASH and PRWE scores showed no significant differences between the techniques. Radiographic restoration of alignment was similar between groups, and complication rates were low in both cohorts. Conclusion: PKW and VLP provide equivalent long-term functional and radiological outcomes in extra-articular distal radius fractures. PKW offers distinct advantages in early recovery, including reduced postoperative pain and shorter hospitalization, supporting its use as a minimally invasive and effective alternative in appropriately selected patients.
