The Effects of Pronator Quadratus Repair on Outcomes After Volar Plating of Distal Radius Fractures

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate forearm rotation after volar plating of the distal radius fractures with and without pronator quadratus repair.

Design: This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

Setting: The study was conducted at an Academic Medical Center.

Patients: Over a 5-year period, 606 patients with distal radius fractures (OTA classifications 23-A through 23-C) were enrolled in an institutional review board-approved, prospectively collected, distal radius database. One hundred and seventy-five patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation with volar plating. Of these, 112 patients had complete 1-year follow-up (6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months) and were included in this study.

Intervention: Volar plating of the distal radius was performed with pronator quadratus repair (group A), versus volar plating without pronator quadratus repair (group B). Surgeries in group A were performed by a fellowship trained hand surgeon utilizing volar plates from Depuy Orthopedics (Warsaw, IN), whereas the surgeries in group B were performed by a fellowship trained orthopedic trauma surgeon utilizing volar plates from Stryker (Mahwah, NJ).

Main Outcome Measurements: Primary outcomes include forearm range of motion. Secondary outcomes include grip strength, pain levels, functional outcomes (DASH scores), radiographs, and complications.

Results: Baseline and demographic characteristics of the patients were similar between the 2 groups. There was no difference in mean pronation (P = 0.08) at 1 year. Among secondary analyses, radial deviation was significantly different (P = 0.03); however, pain (P = 0.13) and DASH scores (P = 0.14) were not. The only patient that requested plate removal had the pronator repaired (group A).

Conclusions: We conclude that there is no advantage in repairing the pronator quadratus during volar plating of distal radius fractures.

Level Of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.