POSTOPERATIVE STABILITY AFTER VOLAR LOCKING PLATE IN DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURES.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the correction and maintenance of radiographic parameters-volar tilt (VT), radial inclination (RI), and radial height (RH)-from the preoperative period to outpatient discharge in distal radius fractures treated with a volar locking plate (VLP), stratified by AO/OTA, Fernandez, and IDEAL classifications.

METHODS

Retrospective analytical case series including 135 fractures operated on between January 2023 and August 2024. Standard anteroposterior and lateral radiographs were obtained at three time points: preoperative (PRE), immediate postoperative (IPO), and outpatient discharge (POT). Two independent, mutually blinded raters classified the fractures and measured VT, RI, and RH. The study focused on radiographic outcomes.

RESULTS

Significant improvements in VT, RI, and RH were observed from PRE→IPO and PRE→POT (p<0.001). Differences from IPO→POT were small and not significant (p>0.05), indicating maintenance of parameters until discharge. The same pattern was seen in higher-complexity subgroups (AO type C, IDEAL 3, and Fernandez 5).

CONCLUSION

VLP fixation provided effective initial correction and radiographic maintenance up to discharge in distal radius fractures, particularly in complex patterns. Level of evidence IV, case series.