Osteosíntesis percutánea con placas volares bloqueadas en fracturas metafisarias distales de radio. Descripción de la técnica y resultados preliminares / Percutaneous volar locked plate fixation in metaphyseal fractures of distal radius. Technical description and preliminary results

Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados objetivos y subjetivos obtenidos luego de una osteosíntesis con placas en T bloqueadas volares, colocadas mediante una técnica mínimamente invasiva, en fracturas de radio distal con extensión metafisaria. Materiales y Métodos: Evaluación retrospectiva de seis pacientes adultos que presentaron fracturas inestables de radio distal, extrarticulares o articulares parciales, con extensión metafisaria, tratadas quirúrgicamente con placas en T largas de compresión bloqueadas volares, mediante una técnica mínimamente invasiva, entre 2007 y 2012. Edad promedio: 40.17 años. Fracturas de tipo 23A3 (n=6) de la Clasificación AO/OTA. Se realizó la reducción indirecta, bajo radioscopia y, a través de dos pequeñas incisiones, se deslizó, en forma percutánea, una placa bloqueada volar en T. Se analizaron los parámetros radiográficos, el rango de movimiento y la fuerza. Los resultados subjetivos fueron evaluados usando la escala DASH y la escala analógica visual. Resultados: Tiempo de consolidación promedio: 2.4 meses. Los resultados radiográficos no mostraron diferencias significativas entre el primero y el último control al año de seguimiento. Flexión y extensión promedio: 70° y 60°, pronación y supinación: 79° y 80°, respectivamente. Fuerza de prensión promedio: 78,4%. Puntaje DASH 19,82; escala analógica visual 1,5 puntos. Conclusiones: Las técnicas mínimamente invasivas reducen el daño quirúrgico y las complicaciones. Son una opción en pacientes con daño grave de partes blandas, conminución metafisaria y trauma de alta energía. La colocación de placas volares bloqueadas percutáneas es un procedimiento técnicamente demandante, permite obtener fijaciones estables y restaurar la anatomía radial en fracturas de radio distal con extensión metafisaria.

Objective: To evaluate objective and subjective outcomes after closed reduction and minimally invasive volar locked T-plate osteosynthesis for distal radius fractures with metaphyseal involvement. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated six patients treated with minimally invasive volar locked T-plate osteosynthesis for unstable extra-articular or partial articular distal radius fractures with metaphyseal involvement, between 2007 and 2012. Average age: 40.17 years. According to the AO/OTA classification, all patients had 23A3 type fractures. Indirect reduction was performed. Two volar small incisions were made; a volar locked compression T-plate was introduced in the sub-muscular plane, under radioscopic guidance. Analysis included radiological parameters, range of motion and strength. Subjective results were assessed using DASH score and the Visual Analogue Scale. Results: All fractures healed within 2.4 months. Radiographic outcomes showed no differences between the first postoperative control and the last one at one-year follow-up. Average flexion and extension 70° and 60°, pronation and supination: 79° and 80°. Grip strength: 78.4%. DASH score 19.82 and visual analogue scale: 1.5 points. Conclusions: Minimally invasive technique decreases surgical injury and complications. It is an option in patients with metaphyseal comminution, severe soft tissue injuries and high energy trauma. Percutaneous volar locked compression plate allows to obtain a stable fixation and to restore distal radius anatomy in radius fractures with metaphyseal involvement.

Curative effect of simple volar or dorsal plating in the treatment of intra-articular distal radius fracture / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To compare the clinical effect of simple volar or dorsal plate fixation of intra-articular distal radius fracture.Methods This retrospective study included 42 patients with closed intra-articular distal radius fracture treated surgically using the dorsal or volar plate.Out of the 15 patients in dorsal plating group 5 were males and 10 females at age of (55 ± 7)years (range, 48-62 years), 13 were injured from falls and 2 traffic accidents, 10 were classified as AO type C3 and 5 AO type C2.Out of the 27 patients in volar plating group 8 were males and 19 females at age of (56 ± 6)years (range, 50-62 years), 24 were injured from falls and 3 traffic accidents, 17 were classified as AO type C3 and 10 AO type C2.Between-group differences were compared with respect to wrist range of motion, postoperative radiographic parameters, postoperative complications, disabilities of the ann, shoulder and hand (DASH) score and Gartland-Werley score.Results All the patients were followed up for 11-25 months.There were no significant differences in the wrist range of motion and radiographic parameters between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Volar plating group resulted in a significantly better Gartland-Werley score compared to dorsal plating group [1 vs 4 points, P ＜ 0.05], but no significant difference was noted in DASH score (P ＞ 0.05).Four patients (27％) in dorsal plating group developed tendon adhesions and tenolysis was in demand, but one patients (4％) in volar plating group was complicated by median nerve symptoms (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Although the DASH score of the two methods was similar, volar plating yields better results in Gartland-Werley score and complication incidence.Thus the volar plating is recommended for intra-articular distal radius fracture.

Fratura distal do rádio em pacientes com mais de 60 anos: placas ortogonais versus placa volar / Distal radial fractures in patients over 60 years old: orthogonal plates versus volar plate

OBJETIVO: Comparar os resultados do tratamento cirúrgico entre placa volar com estabilidade angular e placas ortogonais em fraturas instáveis de rádio distal em pacientes com mais de 60 anos. MÉTODOS: Pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos tratados com placa volar ou placas ortogonais. Resultados clínicos e radiográficos foram analisados prospectivamente. RESULTADOS: Os grupos de estudo apresentaram resultados clínicos e radiográficos semelhantes seis meses após a operação. No entanto três meses após a cirurgia, o grupo onde foi utilizada a placa volar obteve resultados superiores. CONCLUSÃO: Ambos os grupos apresentaram bons resultados funcionais. O tratamento cirúrgico facilita a reabilitação precoce. A técnica das placas ortogonais requer uma curva de aprendizado maior e apresentou mais complicações e piores resultados iniciais.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results from surgical treatment between volar plates with angular stability and orthogonal plates of unstable distal radius fractures in patients aged over 60 years. METHODS: Selected patients were randomized in two groups treated with volar plates or orthogonal plates. Clinic al and radiographic results were analyzed prospectively. RESULTS: The study groups presented similar clinical and radiographic results six months after the operation. However three months after surgery the volar plate group obtained superior results considering most of the parameters studied. CONCLUSION: Both the volar plates and the orthogonal plates presented good functional results. Surgical treatment enabled early rehabilitation for these patients. Orthogonal plate technique required a longer learning curve, presented more complications and worst early results.