Anterior plating for distal radius anterior marginal fractures

The marginal anterior fractures of the distal radius are considered unstable and involve more therapeutic than diagnosic problems. We propose, through a retrospective series of 60 distal radial anterior marginal fractures treated by anterior plate, to analyze the obtained results and to clarify the place and the limits of this technique with regard to the other therapeutic methods. Our series consists of 50 men and 10 women.The mean age was 38 years [17 to 82]. Road-traffic accidents were the common cause of these fractures. According to the Kapandji classification, our series was composed of 37 fractures type 7a and 23 fractures type 7b .The ulnar styloidfracture was the lesion most frequently associated [49%].The results have been analyzed according to the Castaing classification with a mean follow-up of 35 months [6 to 156]. The functional results are rated as good and exellent in 67 per cent and the anatomical results are rated as good and exellent in 91 per cent . The obtained results confirm the interest and the efficiency of the surgical treatment by anterior plating of these fractures, in the condition to restore perfectly thg articular surface and to insure an adequate ostesynthesis