title: Extensor pollicis longus tendon ruptures after the use of volar locking plates for distal radius fractures.
abstract: Currently, volar locking plates are commonly used to treat distal radius fractures (DRF) because of their stable biomechanical construct and because they cause less soft tissue disturbance and allow early mobilisation of the wrist. Complications such as rupture of tendons have been reported to occur with use of volar locking plates. We describe six cases of rupture of extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendons after the use of volar locking plates. EPL tendon injuries occurred in 2.1% (6/286) of cases after DRF surgery. The causes of EPL rupture after DRF surgery were protrusion of the head tip and insufficient reduction of the dorsal roof fragment of the distal radius. These were considered iatrogenic problems. The cause of EPL rupture was unknown in three cases. We should be extremely careful when determining optimum screw length and reducing displaced dorsal roof fragments to prevent damaging the EPL tendons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan , Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kagawa Rosai Hospital, Marugame 763-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zenke
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Toshihisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oshige
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moritani
authors.forename: Kunitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Menuki
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Toshitaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053401:Palmar Plate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*