Effect of fixing distal radius fracture with volar locking palmar plates while preserving pronator quadratus

L-shaped incision of pronator quadratus (PQ) muscle along its radial and distal borders was always taken for distal radius fractures reduction and internal fixation. Repair of the PQ muscle was always recommended at the end of operation for some instructive reasons. But repair of PQ is not satisfied because of poor quality of muscle and fascial tissues which may cause pain or impede forearm pronation and supination for post-operative scarring around PQ. Inserting the locking palmar plate to pass under the pronator quadratus muscle and the locking screws are inserted through mini-incisions in pronator quadratus in some patients with distal radius fractures is a reasonable technique which can preserve the pronator quadratus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical effects after volar plating of the distal radius fractures while preserving the pronator quadratus and pronator quadratus repair.

Between September 2010 and April 2012, 65 patients (42 males and 23 females; aged 20-68 years and a mean age of 42.5 years) with distal radius fracture underwent open reduction and internal fixation using the volar locking palmar plates (Depuy or Smith companies). The patients were classified as 23A-2 through 23C-3 according to the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) classifications. All surgeries were completed by the same trained team. The volar locking palmar plates of distal radius performed with preserving pronator quadratus group involved 30 patients including 19 males and 11 females and performed with pronator quadratus repair group involved 35 patients including 23 males and 12 females. We compared the two groups for wrist pain, forearm range of motion, grip strength, perioperative complications and wrist functional recovery score.

The minimum follow-up for the whole cohort was one year. The differences between the two groups were significant with regard to wrist pain, forearm range of motion, grip strength and wrist function at 1, 2, and 6 weeks postoperatively, but insignificant at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. No significant differences were found in the perioperative complications and radiographs postoperatively.

Preservation of the pronator quadratus muscle is a satisfactory method for the treatment of majority of the fractures of the distal radius with volar locking palmar plates, as this technique can yield better early wrist function and shorten the rehabilitation.