Can the screw number in volar locking plate fixation for distal radius fractures predict the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation outcome?

OBJECTIVE

The optimum number of screws in a volar locking plate (VLP) for distal radial fractures (DRF) fixation has not been established. We conducted a retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the number of used screws and the post-operative results provided by the patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) questionnaire.

METHOD: A total number of 62 surgically treated participants for DRF were included in the study between July 2019 and September 2022. Information was gathered regarding the number and arrangement of screws by examining X-ray images and using health records. We were looking at five variables: the total number of screws, the number of proximal fragment screws, the number of distal fragment screws, the number of locking screws, and finally number of cortical screws.

RESULTS

Our data suggests that the number of screws in VLP for DRF fixation is a weak predictor of post-operative results and is therefore unlikely to influence the PRWE score.

CONCLUSIONS

The ability to predict outcome by knowing the number of screws turned out to be an unreliable prognostic sign.