Flexor Tendon Attritional Ruptures Following Distal Radius Volar Plate Fixation.

PURPOSE: To investigate patient and radiographic factors that may correlate with the time to flexor tendon rupture following volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures.

METHODS

A total of 31 patients who underwent volar plate removal because of flexor tendon rupture were analyzed. Patient demographics and the interval from operative fixation until rupture were determined retrospectively. Volar tilt and lateral carpal alignment were measured radiographically. The Soong classification was used to grade volar plate prominence. The correlation between the duration to tendon rupture and volar tilt, carpal alignment, and age was evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 7 men and 24 women. Mean age at the time of hardware removal and flexor tendon management was 66 years (n = 31). Radiographs were classified as Soong 1 (n = 24) and Soong 2 (n = 3). The mean measured volar tilt was -4° (range, -20°-+7°). The mean interval from operative fixation until complete tendon rupture was 4.9 years, (range, 0.3-13.1 years; n = 30). There was no correlation between the time interval to rupture and the magnitude of tilt, carpal alignment, or age at the time of operative fixation.

CONCLUSIONS

Although volar plate prominence was present in all patients with flexor tendon ruptures, radiographic parameters including the degree of dorsal tilt, lateral carpal alignment, and patient age did not correlate with the time interval from fixation to tendon rupture.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic IV.