Comparison of functional outcome after volar plate fixation with 2.4-mm titanium versus 3.5-mm stainless-steel plate for extra-articular fracture of distal radius.
OBJECTIVE
Open reduction and locked volar plate and screw fixation is a popular treatment method for extra-articular distal radius fractures with dorsal metaphyseal comminution. In this study, we compared the use of a titanium 2.4-mm precontoured plate with that of a stainless-steel oblique 3.5-mm T-shaped plate to test the null hypothesis that there would be no difference in wrist function or upper extremity-specific health status in the internal fixation of AO-type A3.2 distal radius fractures.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 24 patients treated with a 2.4-mm titanium plate and 38 patients treated with a 3.5-mm stainless-steel plate for an extra-articular and dorsally angulated distal radius fracture, from data gathered in a prospective cohort study of plate and screw fixation of distal radius fractures. The 2 cohorts were analyzed for differences in motion, grip strength, pain, Gartland and Werley score, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, and Short Form-36 score at 6, 12, and 24 months of follow-up. Group differences and their change over time were determined using regression analysis and the likelihood ratio test.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in wrist function and arm-specific health status between patients treated with a 2.4-mm plate and those treated with a 3.5-mm plate at 6, 12, or 24 months of follow-up. However, we observed a trend toward greater wrist flexion at 1 year (66 degrees vs 55 degrees ; p=.07) and greater flexion-extension arc (137 degrees vs 123 degrees ; p=.08) and pronation-supination arc (172 degrees vs 160 degrees ; p=.07) at 24 months after surgery in patients treated with a 2.4-mm plate.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with a dorsally angulated extra-articular distal radius facture can expect similar results when treated with either a precontoured 2.4-mm titanium plate or a 3.5-mm stainless-steel T-shaped plate.


METHODS
Therapeutic III.
Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
J Sebastiaan
JS
Souer
David
D
Ring
Stefan
S
Matschke
Laurent
L
Audige
Marta
M
Maren-Hubert
Jesse
J
Jupiter
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013193:Stainless Steel; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013193:Stainless Steel