Intra-articular distal radius fractures: Postoperative roentgenographic and functional outcomes

Objective: to assess the outcome of volarlocking compression plate fixation for intra-articular distal radius fractures with respect to function of hand and roentgenographic parameters. methods: the retrospective study was conducted at the aga khan university hospital,karachi,and comprised patients who underwent locking compression plate fixation for intra-articular distal radius fractures between june 2009 and july 2012. case notes,radiographic assessment and functional outcomes were noted. functional outcome was determined with the help of telephone-based quick-dash score questionnaire administered atleast 6 months post-surgery. radiological assessment of radial inclination,radial height and volar tilt was measured on immediate postoperative radiographs and then again measured at last available follow-up which ranged from 4 to 116 weeks. results: the mean age of the 43 patients in the study was 47.31±14.24 years (range: 20-95 years) at the time of injury. mean quick dash score at 6-month follow-up was 17.2±8.8 (range: 4-40). the outcome was very good in 1(2.2%),good in 30(66.7%),satisfactory in 10(22.2%) and poor in 4(8.9%) patients. mean immediate postoperative radial inclination,volar tilt and radial height were 17.26±3.23°,7.6±3.87° and 10.2±1.95mm respectively. corresponding values at the last follow-up were 17±3.89°,7.67±4.28° and 9.8±1.8mm. conclusion: use of locking compression plate for intra-articular distal radius fracture showed good results comparable with global literature. © 2016,university of economics - prague. all reserved.