Treatment of Fractures of the Distal Radius Using Variable-Angle Volar Locking Plate

Jae-Cheon Sim; Sung-Sik Ha; Ki-Do Hong; Tae-Ho Kim; Min-Chul Sung

doi:10.12671/jkfs.2015.28.1.46

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Sim, Ha, Hong, Kim, and Sung: Treatment of Fractures of the Distal Radius Using Variable-Angle Volar Locking Plate

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2015; 28(1): 46-52.

Published online: 20 January 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2015.28.1.46

Treatment of Fractures of the Distal Radius Using Variable-Angle Volar Locking Plate

Jae-Cheon Sim, M.D., Sung-Sik Ha, M.D., Ki-Do Hong, M.D., Tae-Ho Kim, M.D., Min-Chul Sung, M.D.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sahmyook Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Sung-Sik Ha, M.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sahmyook Medical Center, 82 Mangu-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-711, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2210-3324, Fax: 82-2-2212-2673, crash1401@naver.com

Received 6 October 2014 Revised 26 November 2014 Accepted 5 December 2014

(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

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcome of variable-angle volar locking plate for treatment of distal radius fractures.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the results in 45 cases treated by variable-angle volar locking plate. We evaluated the clinical results according to the Mayo wrist performance scoring system and radiographic results.

Results

All cases had bony union. The mean Mayo wrist performance scoring system was 84.8. Between preoperative and immediate postoperative radiographic measurement, the mean radial length improved from 8.4 to 11.8 mm, radial inclination from 14.2° to 22.4°, volar tilt from -4.5° to 9.6°, and intraarticular step-off from 1.8 to 0.3 mm (p<0.05). Between immediate postoperative and latest follow-up radiographic measurements, the mean loss of radial length measured 0.8 mm, radial inclination 0.4°, and volar tilt 0.9° (p>0.05). All cases showed bone union with no evidence of malunion, nonunion, or metal failure.

Conclusion

Treatment of distal radius fractures using variable angle volar locking plate showed satisfactory outcomes. It is a good option to obtain stable fixation without significant loss of reduction.

Keywords: Distal radius fracture, Volar approach, Variable angle volar locking plate

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

(A) A 40-year-old female patient presented with a distal radius fracture as AO classification C2. (B) Postoperative radiographs show acceptable reduction with variable angle volar locking compression plate. (C) Postoperative 12-month radiographs show complete bone union.

Table 1

Radiographic Data for Distal Radius Fractures Treated with Variable Angle Volar Locking Compression Plates

Table 2

Clinical Evaluation by Mayo Wrist Score System

Notes

Financial support: None.

Conflict of interest: None.

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