The purpose of this study was to evaluate the
risk of late displacement after the treatment of distal radial fractures with
a locking volar plate, and to investigate the clinical and radiological
factors that might correlate with re-displacement. From March 2007
to October 2009, 120 of an original cohort of 132 female patients
with unstable fractures of the distal radius were treated with a
volar locking plate, and were studied over a follow-up period of
six months. In the immediate post-operative and final follow-up
radiographs, late displacement was evaluated as judged by ulnar
variance, radial inclination, and dorsal angulation. We also analysed
the correlation of a variety of clinical and radiological factors
with re-displacement. Ulnar variance was significantly overcorrected
(p <
0.001) while radial inclination and dorsal angulation were
undercorrected when compared statistically (p <
0.001) with the unaffected
side in the immediate post-operative stage. During follow-up, radial
shortening and dorsal angulation progressed statistically, but none
had a value beyond the acceptable range. Bone mineral density measured
at the proximal femur and the position of the screws in the subchondral
region, correlated with slight progressive radial shortening, which
was not clinically relevant. Volar locking plating of distal radial fractures is a reliable
form of treatment without substantial late displacement. Cite this article:
We describe the use of a vascularised periosteal patch onlay graft based on the 1,2 intercompartmental supraretinacular artery in the management of 11 patients (ten men, one woman) with chronic nonunion involving the proximal third of the scaphoid. The mean age of the patients was 31 years (21 to 45) with the dominant hand affected in eight. Six of the patients were smokers and three had undergone previous surgery to the scaphoid. All of the proximal fragments were avascular. The presence of union was assessed using longitudinal axis CT. Only three patients progressed to union of the scaphoid and four required a salvage operation for a symptomatic nonunion. The remaining four patients with a persistent nonunion are asymptomatic with low pain scores, good grip strength and a functional range of wrist movement. Although this technique has potential technical advantages over vascularised pedicled bone grafting, the rate of union has been disappointing and we do not recommend it as a method of treatment.
