Volar locking plate and transverse Kirschner wire fixation for treatment of distal radius fractures with unstable distal radioulnar joint

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of combined volar locking plate and transverse Kirschner wire fixation for treatment of distal radius fractures with unstable distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ).Methods A retrospective study was conducted to review 58 cases of 61 injured wrists with DRUJ instability and distal radius fractures treated between 2008 and 2012.Among them 28 wrists were treated with volar locking plate combined with transverse Kirschner wire fixation.The other 33 wrists were treated with volar locking plate fixation only.Garfland and Werley grading systems were used for postoperative evaluations.The causes of the clinical outcomes were analyzed.Results Postoperative follow-up period ranged from 4 to 36 months with an average of 21.5 months.The results were rated good in 92.86 ％ of patients treated with combined volar locking plate and transverse Kirschner wire fixation and in 87.88 ％ of those treated with volar locking plate fixation only.Conclusion Volar locking plate combined with transverse Kirschner wire fixation can effectively treat distal radius fractures with DRUJ instability and alleviate postoperative functional impairment of the wrist joint. Key words: Internal fixators; Kirschner wire; Unstable distal radioulnar joint; Distal radius fracture; Volar locking plate