Henry Versus Thompson Approach for Fixation of Proximal Third Radial Shaft Fractures: A Multicenter Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Trauma surgery
• Upper extremity fractures

Background:

• Proximal third radial shaft fractures require surgical intervention.
• Volar (Henry) and dorsal (Thompson) approaches are common surgical techniques.
• Comparative outcome data for these approaches are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the outcomes and complication rates of the volar Henry and dorsal Thompson approaches for treating proximal third radial shaft fractures.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of each surgical approach.

Main Methods:

• Multicenter retrospective cohort study involving 202 patients with proximal third radial shaft fractures.
• Patients were treated operatively at 11 trauma centers.
• Data on demographics, injury patterns, surgical details, range of motion, and complications were collected and compared between volar and dorsal approach groups.

Main Results:

• A total of 202 patients (155 volar, 47 dorsal) were analyzed with an average follow-up of 292 days.
• Complication rates were 11% for the volar approach and 21% for the dorsal approach, with no statistically significant difference.
• Fractures treated via the dorsal approach were, on average, more proximal, but this did not impact screw fixation levels.

Conclusions:

• There is no statistically significant difference in complication rates between the volar Henry and dorsal Thompson approaches for proximal third radial shaft fractures.
• The volar Henry approach is a safe and effective option for fixation extending to the level of the radial tuberosity.
• This study supports the safety and utility of the volar Henry approach in managing these fractures.