Functional Outcome of Volar Barton Fracture of Distal End Radius Undergoing Plating

Abstract

Background: Volar Barton fractures of the distal radius are complex intra-articular injuries that often require surgical intervention for optimal functional recovery. Volar plating is commonly used to achieve stable fixation and early mobilization.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the functional outcomes and complications in patients with volar Barton fractures of the distal radius treated with volar plating.Methods: This prospective study was conducted from March 2023 to March 2024, including 60 patients aged 18-60 years with AO/ASIF type B3 volar Barton fractures. All patients underwent open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) using a volar locking plate through a modified Henry approach. Postoperative assessments were performed at six months using Gartland and Werley’s wrist score. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 25, with one-way ANOVA applied to evaluate associations between variables, considering a p-value < 0.05 as significant.Results: The average age was 34.43 ± 12.34 years. Excellent functional outcomes were achieved in 61.7% of patients, good in 30%, fair in 6.7%, and poor in 1.7%. Complications were minimal, with 95% of patients reporting none, 3.3% experiencing wound infections, and 1.7% reporting wrist stiffness.Conclusion: Volar plating for volar Barton fractures showed excellent to good functional outcomes in most patients, with minimal complications. Further studies with larger populations are recommended.