title: Initial experience with the Forte plate for dorsally displaced distal radius fractures.
abstract: Open reduction and plate osteosynthesis is occasionally indicated for dorsally displaced distal radius fractures. We reviewed our medium term results with the Forte plate, one of the recently introduced purpose-made implants.Twenty-five patients operated on during the first year were reviewed 19 (12-24) months after surgery. Median age at operation was 53 (28-80) years. There were seven high energy and eighteen low energy injuries. Fourteen fractures extended into the radiocarpal joint.Three patients had a poor clinical result and were re-operated on before review with an arthrodesis, ulnar shortening, or Sauve-Kapandji operation. The remainder had six excellent, twelve good, and four fair results. Irritation of the extensor tendons was a minor problem. Initial radiological correction of deformity was satisfactory, but increased volar angulation of the distal radius was seen at follow up in twenty patients - by more than 10 degrees in nine. Seven patients had 20-30 degrees volar tilt at final review and tended to have a poorer clinical result than other patients. In our patients use of the Forte plate seems to have given satisfactory clinical results, but the increase in volar tilt after surgery is a cause for concern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Trondheim University Hospital, 7006 Trondheim, Norway. vilh.finsen@medisin.ntnu.no
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Finsen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aasheim
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome