A biomechanical study of distal radial fractures

In an attempt to explain disability in dorsally angulated malunited distal radius fractures, an experiment was designed to evaluate load patterns about the wrist with varying degrees of dorsal angulation of the distal radius. Osteotomies were made in the distal radius of fresh cadaver arms after a modified external fixator was applied to the radius and load cells applied to the proximal radius and ulna. Pressure-sensitive film was inserted into the radioulnar carpal joint. After a predetermined load was applied to the wrist it was found that the load through the ulna increased from 21% to 67% of the total load as the angulation of the distal radial fragment increased from 10 degrees of palmar tilt to 45 degrees of dorsal tilt. The pressure distribution on the ulnar and radial articular surfaces changed in position and became more concentrated as dorsal angulation increased.