Rupture of the Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon at the Proximal Screw of Volar Plate Fixation for Distal Radius Fracture - A Case Report -

Dong-Ju Shin; Seung-Oh Nam; Hun-Sik Cho

doi:10.12671/jkfs.2013.26.4.338

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Shin, Nam, and Cho: Rupture of the Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon at the Proximal Screw of Volar Plate Fixation for Distal Radius Fracture - A Case Report -

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2013; 26(4): 338-342.

Published online: 18 October 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2013.26.4.338

Rupture of the Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon at the Proximal Screw of Volar Plate Fixation for Distal Radius Fracture - A Case Report -

Dong-Ju Shin, M.D., Seung-Oh Nam, M.D., Hun-Sik Cho, M.D.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Seung-Oh Nam, M.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Daegu Fatima Hospital, 99 Ayang-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 701-724, Korea. Tel: 82-53-940-7324, Fax: 82-53-954-7417, nso1020@naver.com

Received 20 May 2013 Revised 6 July 2013 Accepted 6 July 2013

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

As volar plate fixation of distal radius fracture becomes more common, reports of ruptured extensor pollicis longus tendon by a protruding distal screw tip are also increasing steadily. Authors have experienced a rare case of ruptured extensor pollicis longus tendon at the prominent proximal screw of fixed volar plate for distal radius fracture, and we report it herein with a review of the literature.

Keywords: Extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture, Distal radius fracture, Volar plate fixation, Proximal screw

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Postoperative plain radiographs show that the proximal screw tips of fixed volar plate are protruded about 1-2 mm from the dorsal cortex of distal radius. The arrow marks the causative screw of ruptured extensor pollicis longus tendon.

Fig. 2

Computerized tomographs show that any distal screws of fixed volar plate do not penetrate the dorsal cortex of distal radius, but the proximal screws are definitely protruded through the dorsal cortex. The middle one (arrow) is the most prominent screw in comparison of simple radiographs, measuring about 2.8 mm.

Fig. 3

Preoperative ultrasonography shows protruding screw tips and discontinuity of extensor pollicis longus tendon at distal forearm region.

Fig. 4

Intraoperative photographs show a complete rupture of extensor pollicis longus tendon, where the ends are torn and fraying at prominent proximal screw tip, measuring about 2.5 mm.

References

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