[A 36 month prospective study of 12 plate osteosyntheses of distal radius fractures].
BACKGROUND
We performed a prospective study of 12 intra-articular distal radial fractures. The fractures were treated with an anterior plate together with posterior pinning. The aim of the study was to examine whether it was technically feasible to fix such fractures using this technique and to assess the stability of the fixation at follow up.


METHODS
Twelve articular fractures were included with a mean age of 47.1 years. All patients were followed up from first admission to the 36th postop month with clinical and radiological checks.


RESULTS
At follow up, we found 8 good and excellent clinical results, 3 fair and 1 poor. The combination of an anterior plate with posterior pinning allowed a good initial reduction but could not protect from secondary displacement particularly in the presence of a comminuted metaphysal fracture.


CONCLUSIONS
This procedure gave clinically satisfactory results but did not control ulnar variance. This procedure should be combined with bone grafting in complex metaphysal fractures and epiphysal screws should be used whenever possible.
Limousin
M
M
Service de chirurgie de la main et du membre supérieur, orthopédie B, hôpital Roger-Salengro, 59037 Lille, France.
Benoit
O
O
Chantelot
C
C
Gueguen
G
G
Strouk
G
G
Fontaine
C
C
D001858:Bone Nails; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*