Distal Radius Fracture Treated with Two Small Fragment Plates

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze functional and radiological results and early motion after the stable fixation of fractures of the distal radius by using two small fragment plates. Materials and Methods: Thirty cases were analyzed clinically and radiographically. Internal fixation was achieved using two 2.7 mm stainless steel small fragment plates on the radial and intermediate columns angled 60 apart in all cases. For functional evaluation, Green and O'Brien scores were analyzed. For radiological evaluation, volar tilting angle, radial inclination, and ulnar variance were analyzed. Arthroscopy was performed in all cases concomitantly. Results: Functional results were excellent or good in 24 patients (80%) according to the modified system of Green and O'Brien. Radiological analysis showed that volar tilting angle, radial inclination or ulnar variance during the immediate postoperative to bony union period had no significant difference. Complications occurred in two wrists, namely reflex sympathetic dystrophy (1) and delayed union (1) needing an additional palmar plate and a bone graft. No case experienced implant failure or extensor tendinitis. Conclusion: Two 2.7 mm small fragment plates fixations provided good stability, and allowed early function. We report a series of 30 fractures treated by this method of internal fixation with satisfactory results.