Findings in Radius Fracture Reported from Baylor College of Medicine (Radiographic Outcomes of Dorsal Spanning Plate for Treatment of Comminuted Distal Radius Fractures in Non-Elderly Patients)

2020 APR 06 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Daily -- A new study on is now available. According to news originating from Baylor College of Medicine by NewsRx editors, the research stated, “Multifragmentary fractures of the distal radius with articular and metaphyseal comminution (AO 23-C3) represent challenging injuries to manage. Distal fracture lines, articular comminution, and limited distal bone stock may preclude stable fixation with a volar locking plate.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Baylor College of Medicine: “The use of a dorsal spanning plate (DSP) offers an alternative treatment option in this setting. We examined the radiographic outcomes of a consecutive series of patients with comminuted intra-articular distal radius fractures not amenable to volar locked plating, who were treated with a DSP. We reviewed all distal radius fractures treated with a dorsal spanning plate at our institution between October, 2014 and March, 2018. Patients with AO 23-C3 fractures treated with dorsal spanning plate fixation were included in this study. Demographic data, time from plate placement to removal, and postoperative radiographic outcomes were examined. We identified 24 patients, mean age 41 years (range, 19-62 years). Mean follow-up was 19.5 weeks (range, 12-35 weeks) from the time of plate placement. Plates were removed at a mean of 87 days (range, 40-215 days) after surgery. All patients achieved radiographic union. Mean radial height at the time of union was 11.1 mm (SD, 3.7 mm; range, 6-18 mm), radial inclination was 19.7 (SD, 5.4 ; range, 9 to 30 ), ulnar variance was 1.0 mm (SD, 2.4 mm; range, -3 to 6 mm), and volar tilt was 1.4 (SD, 5.2 ; range, -10 to 14 ). Mean articular displacement was 1.7 mm (SD, 1.7 mm; range, 0-6 mm). Malalignment of at least one of these radiographic parameters was identified in 16 of 24 patients at the time of union.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Dorsal spanning plate fixation offers an alternative treatment option for comminuted intra-articular distal radius fractures (AO 23-C3). Although this technique presents a straightforward means for fixation of complex distal radius fractures, radiographic outcomes may be inferior relative to less complex fractures treated with standard volar plating techniques. Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic IV.”

For more information on this research see: Radiographic Outcomes of Dorsal Spanning Plate for Treatment of Comminuted Distal Radius Fractures in Non-Elderly Patients. Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online, 2020,2(2):94-101. The publisher for Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online is Elsevier.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsg.2019.10.001.

Our news journalists report that more information may be obtained by contacting MD Behnam Sharareh, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. Additional authors for this research include MD Scott Mitchell.

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