Volar Locking Plate Fixation for Intra-Articular Distal Radius Fractures with Volar Lunate Facet Fragments Distal to the Watershed Line.

BACKGROUND

Standard volar plating of distal radius fractures may not adequately fix the volar lunate facet (VLF) fragment, which can result in volar carpal subluxation. We hypothesized that the size of VLF fragments distal to the watershed line might affect reduction loss after distally placed volar locking plate fixation for intra-articular distal radius fracture and examined if the presence of small displaced VLF fragments was a risk factor for reduction loss.

METHODS

Twenty-seven hands of 27 patients with intra-articular distal radius fractures with VLF fragments distal to the watershed line were treated by using Acu-Loc 2 volar distal radius locking plate fixation.

RESULTS

At final follow-up, the mean Mayo Performance Score was 90.9, and the mean Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score was 13.6. On radiography, 5 patients had a reduction loss of >2 mm in ulnar variance from immediately postoperatively to final follow-up (group 1), while 27 had no reduction loss (group 2). The mean longitudinal, transverse, and anteroposterior lengths and joint surface area of the VLF fragment were significantly smaller in group 1 than in group 2. Three-dimensional computed tomography revealed that the fracture patterns of the radiocarpal and distal radioulnar joints in group 1 were mainly volar-displaced VLF fragments.

CONCLUSIONS

By stabilizing fragments, distally placed volar locking plate fixation effectively treated intra-articular distal radius fractures with VLF fragments distal to the watershed line. However, the presence of small displaced VLF fragments may increase the risk of reduction loss in ulnar variance.