Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: Trauma - Hand/Wrist
Abstract number: 25535
COMPARATIVE OUTCOME OF DISTAL RADIAL FRACTURES TREATED WITH
DIFFERENT LOCKING PLATES
RIZWAN SHAHID, SAQIB JAVED, RAVI THIMMAIAH, MUJAHID EL-DEEN
COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL, CHESTER (UNITED KINGDOM)
Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the results of volar locking
plating including the complication rates at 3 months. Methods: A retrospective data
analysis was conducted for all adult patients treated with different distal radius
locking plates over a three year period (2007-09) in our unit. Data obtained included
age, hand dominance, type of implant used, fracture classification, length of hospital
stay and complications both clinical and radiological. Distal radius fractures were
classified according to the Fernandez classification and further defined as low risk
(types 1, 2) or high risk (types 3, 4, and 5). Outcome was assessed at three months
following the primary surgery. Results: 65 patients (66 wrists) were identified (23
male, 42 female). The mean age was 52.5 years (range 17 86). According to the
Fernandez classification 71% of fractures were either types 1 or 2, 29 % were either
types 3, 4 or 5. Based on the implant manufacturer the plates used were 54% Stryker
Variax, 32% Synthes LCP, 14% Smith and Nephew Peri-Loc, respectively. 73% of
patients had no complications. Stiffness (20%) was the commonest complication
(18.2% in the low risk group and 33.3% in high risk group, P < 0.05). Only 3%
required implant removal. Stryker variax plates had the highest complications
(25.7%) but this was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Based on the low
implant related complications we conclude that the majority of distal radius fractures
can be safely treated by volar locking plating when clinically indicated.
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