A clinical prospective study of volar plating in distal radius fracture

Abstract

Background and objective: Incidence of fractures of distal radius are increasing due to more geriatric population and road traffic accidents and at the same time surgical treatment option for the same are modified continuously. The fundamental goal & treatment of distal radial fractures is restoration of normal or near normal alignment and articular congruity.Method: 30 patients with fractures of distal radius were selected who were admitted in JSS Hospital, Mysore between September 2015 and September 2018.Patients were treated with open reduction and internal fixation with volar plate through a volar approach and followed up till functional recovery and assessed clinico radiologically.Result: The study comprised of 22 male and 8 female patients aged from 21 to 62 years with mean age of 43.35 years. The average duration from date of injury to date of surgery was 2.35 days. The follow up ranged from 9 to 18 months. Using the demerit scoring system of Gartland and Werley, we had 40% excellent, 46.66% good, 6.66% fair and 6.66% poor results.Interpretation and Conclusion: In carefully selected patients even in the face of osteoporosis, fixation of fractures of distal end of radius with a volar plate has satisfactory outcome for both the patient and the surgeon and must be considered part of a surgeons Armamentarium in the contemporary treatment of osteoporotic fractures of distal radius.