title: STATISTICAL ANALYSIS ON FUNCTIONAL AND RADIOGRAPHIC RESULTS AFTER USE OF LOCKED VOLAR PLATE FOR FRACTURES OF THE DISTAL RADIUS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the functional results from using a fixed-angle locked volar plate for treating fractures of the distal extremity of the radius, using the DASH (disorders of the arm, shoulder and hand) questionnaire and its radiographic correlation with the Lidström classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with unstable fractures of the distal extremity of the radius were evaluated after they had undergone a surgical procedure consisting of open reduction and internal fixation using a fixed-angle locked volar plate, at the Military Police Central Hospital of Rio de Janeiro between 2008 and 2009. The results were assessed based on range of motion, DASH protocol scores and radiographies with the Lidström classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients in the study was 51 years. The mean DASH score was 11.9 points. It was observed that the radiographic findings did not influence the DASH score. It was found that flexion, pronation, supination and radial deviation correlated with the DASH score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed that subjective functional outcomes using the DASH protocol, obtained from using a locked volar plate to treat fractures of the distal extremity of the radius, are influenced by the range of motion, and especially by the flexion, supination, pronation and radial deviation of the wrist after surgery. There is no correlation between the radiological parameters of either the normal or the operated radius, and the subjective functional outcomes assessed using the DASH protocol.
authors.affiliation: Former Resident at the Central Hospital of the Military Police; Member of the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (SBOT), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Gonçalves
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Former Resident at the Central Hospital of the Military Police; Member of the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (SBOT), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio Auto
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: da Cruz Cerqueira
authors.affiliation: MSc in Public Health; Preceptor of Medical Residence, Central Hospital of the Military Police, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Ribeiro Pinho
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rodarte
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist responsible for the Hand Surgery Group, Central Hospital of the Military Police, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Souza Araújo Netto
authors.affiliation: MSc in Orthopedics; Head of the Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Central Hospital of the Military Police, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Bezerra
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: de Mathias
keywords: Bone Plates; Fracture Fixation; Radius Fractures; Retrospective Studies; Statistical Analysis