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Low-profile titanium dorsal plating may be viable for distal radius fractures
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For patients with unstable, displaced distal radius fractures, low-profile titanium dorsal plating was found to be a safe and viable alternative, according to study results.
Researchers retrospectively reviewed the inpatient and outpatient records, surgical reports and radiographs of 110 patients treated with dorsal plating because of unstable, dorsally displaced distal radius fractures from January 2001 to May 2008. Patients were followed-up for a minimum of 1 year.
Study results showed satisfactory alignment in all cases, and no nonunions were observed. According to the researchers, 8% of patients required removal of hardware at an average of 12 months, and 5% of patients had evidence of extensor tenosynovitis intraoperatively. However, the researchers did not identify any extensor tendon ruptures.
Using the Gartland and Werley score, 82 patients had excellent results, 22 had good results, five had fair results and one had a poor result. The fair and poor results were due to six complications, according to the researchers. At latest follow-up, the average DASH score was six.
Disclosure: Beredjiklian received a speaking honorarium from Trimed and owns stock in Tournier.
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