Radial Plate Fixation: A Novel Technique for Distal Radius Fractures

Overview

Journal Hand (N Y)

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialties General Surgery
Orthopedics

Date 2017 Aug 24

PMID 28832202

Citations 1

Authors

Jeffrey D Hoffmann

Jeremy Stewart

Nicholas Kusnezov

John Dunn

Miguel Pirela-Cruz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Distal radius fractures represent a common fracture pattern frequently treated with volar locked plating for fixation. However, other methods may provide equivalent outcomes and minimize risks associated with the volar approach and hardware placement. One such method is the radial plate.

Methods: After confirmation of institutional board review, we retrospectively reviewed data from 7 patients with our primary functional outcomes measured by Mayo wrist and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) scores. The most recent radiographic and motion parameters were recorded.

Results: Mean age at time of injury was 49 years (range, 19-68 years) with clinical follow-up of 81.6 months (range, 43.5-95.5 months). Five patients had good to excellent outcomes with a mean QuickDASH score of 0.92 for those patients. The mean QuickDASH score for all patients was 18.5. Mean radial height, inclination, and volar tilt were within 5% of the contralateral side. Standard deviation values for radiographic measures and clinical range of motion indicate significant variability in our data set.

Conclusions: Although the results are mixed, our small cohort indicates radial plate fixation could provide a viable alternative to volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures. Further prospective investigation is warranted to better describe long-term outcomes using this technique.

Citing Articles

Clinical Study of Volar Median Approach Combined with Lateral Radial Auxiliary Approach in Treatment of C-Type Distal Radius Fractures: Our Clinical and Radiological Results.

Gu Y, Zhao L, Ren Y, Nyeenya N, Wang Y, Xu C Med Sci Monit. 2023; 29:e938806.

PMID: 37088971 PMC: 10142290. DOI: 10.12659/MSM.938806.

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