title: Functional Outcome and Complications at 2.5 Years Following Volar Locking Plate Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures.
abstract: Distal radius fractures are increasingly treated by internal fixation, but there have been relatively few studies relating to functional outcome at 12 months or more. The aim of this study was to ascertain the patient reported function of the wrist at a minimum of 12 months following fixation of a distal radius fracture, the time taken to return to work, and the complication rate. We conducted a retrospective review of 187 consecutive patients treated by a specialist hand and wrist trauma team at a tertiary referral unit over a 5 year period. Mean age was 57.3 years (range 16-93). Median time to surgery was 4 days (interquartile range 2-9). Median follow up was 31 months (interquartile range 23-41 months). The median PRWE score was 3; (range 0-83). There was no difference in outcome in patients who had surgery delayed by greater than 2 weeks (p > 0.05). The median time to return to work was 5 weeks (interquartile range 1-8 weeks). There were 15 complications (8 %) including 3 tendon injuries. We have demonstrated an early return to work in patients who were employed, a low complication rate, and highly favourable functional outcomes at a mean of 30 months postoperatively. We recommend the use of the DVR plate and involvement of a dedicated hand and wrist trauma team for treatment of unstable fractures of the distal radius.
authors.affiliation: The Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool Upper Limb Unit, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP UK ; Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP UK.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Leighton Hospital, Middlewich Road, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 4QJ UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 7AG UK.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 7AG UK.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 7AG UK.
authors.forename: Cronan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kerin
authors.affiliation: The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 7AG UK.
authors.forename: David James
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: The Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool Upper Limb Unit, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP UK.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheung
keywords: Distal radius fracture; Locking plate; Outcome measure; PRWE