[Clinical effects of locking plate system in treating distal radial fractures]

To determine the clinical results of locking plate system in the treatment of distal radial fractures.

From May 2004 to November 2006, 75 patients were treated with 2.4 mm locking plate system. There were 41 males and 34 females, with a mean age of 51 years old (range, 13-82 years old). The locations were left side in 34 cases and right side in 41 cases. The cause of injury was a low energy fall in 49 cases, falling from height in 14 cases, traffic accident in 6 cases and sports injuries in 6 cases. All patients were diagnosed as having closed fracture. According to Müller-AO classification, there were 14 cases(18.7%) of type A, 5 cases(6.7%) of type B, and 56 cases(74.6%) of type C. The time from injury to operation was 5 hours to 27 days (mean 6 days).

A total of 75 patients were followed up at 3 months, 71 patients at 6 months, 68 patients at 1 year and 51 patients at 2 years. Healing by first intention of incision was achieved in 73 cases, and infection occurred in 2 cases. Fracture reduction failed at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months in 1 case, respectively; 1 case received plaster fixation and 2 cases received re-fixation and autograft of ilium; and fracture healed in 3 cases at last follow-up. Two patients complained of skin numbness at site of superficial branch of radial nerve after 1 day, 1 patient had wound pain after operation, and 1 patient had infection of tendon at 3 days and 5 days in 1 case respectively. At last follow-up, the ranges of motion of wrist joint were (80 +/- 9) degrees for pronation, (86 +/- 7) degrees for supination, (57 +/- 10) degrees for dorsal flexion, (51 +/- 13) degrees for palmar flexion, (18 +/- 7) degrees for radial inclination, and (28 +/- 7) degrees for ulnar deviation. According to modified Green scoring, the results were excellent in 66 cases, good in 6 cases and poor in 3 cases. At last follow-up, according to Knirk criterion for osteoarthritis, there were 22 cases of grade I and 5 cases of grade II, and all were classified as type C.

Internal fixation of distal radial fractures with 2.4 mm locking plate system provided a stable fixation with good clinical outcomes.