J Korean Soc Surg Hand.  2013 Dec;18(4):178-183. 10.12790/jkssh.2013.18.4.178.

Failure of Distal Locking Screws in an Intraarticular Distal Radius Fracture Treated with Volar Locking Plate Fixation

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gwangmyeong Sung-Ae General Hospital, Gwangmyeong, Korea. ostitch79@naver.com

Abstract

Distal radius fracture is one of the most common fractures treated in the orthopedic field. The application of locking plate principle to the distal radius has allowed comminuted distal radius fractures involving the articular surface to be effectively treated by open reduction and internal fixation. The authors experienced a case of failure of distal locking screws in an intraarticular distal radius fracture treated with volar locking plate fixation.

Keyword

Intraarticular distal radius fracture; Locking plate; Failure of screw

MeSH Terms

Orthopedics
Radius Fractures*
Radius*

Figure

  • Fig. 1. Initial (A) anteroposterior and (B) lateral radiographic view after injury, showing the distal radius fracture.

  • Fig. 2. At operative day (A) anteroposterior and (B) lateral radiographs after open reduction and internal fixation with volar locking plate.

  • Fig. 3. Radiographs show (A) dorsal angulation of the fracture following failure of screws. Despite the failure of screws, the lateral radiograph showed neutral alignment of the distal radius articular surface with (B) minimal shortening on the anteroposterior plane. (C) Photographs shows breakage of distal locking screws of volar locking plate due to overload from trekking pole.

  • Fig. 4. Twenty weeks after the last surgery, (A) anteroposterior and (B) lateral radiographs show consolidation at the fracture site.


Reference

1. Chung KC, Spilson SV. The frequency and epidemiology of hand and forearm fractures in the United States. J Hand Surg Am. 2001; 26:908–15.
Article
2. Khan SK, Gozzard C. Union of an intra-articular distal radius fracture after successive failures of three locking plates: a case report. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr. 2012; 7:45–50.
Article
3. Al-Rashid M, Theivendran K, Craigen MA. Delayed ruptures of the extensor tendon secondary to the use of volar locking compression plates for distal radial fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2006; 88:1610–2.
Article
4. Arora R, Lutz M, Hennerbichler A, Krappinger D, Espen D, Gabl M. Complications following internal fixation of unstable distal radius fracture with a palmar lockingplate. J Orthop Trauma. 2007; 21:316–22.
Article
5. Cao J, Ozer K. Failure of volar locking plate fixation of an extraarticular distal radius fracture: a case report. Patient Saf Surg. 2010; 4:19.
Article
6. De Baere T, Lecouvet F, Barbier O. Breakage of a volar locking plate after delayed union of a distal radius fracture. Acta Orthop Belg. 2007; 73:785–90.
7. Imade S, Matsuura Y, Miyamoto W, Nishi H, Uchio Y. Breakage of a volar locking compression plate in distal radial fracture. Injury Extra. 2009; 40:77–80.
Article
8. Yukata K, Doi K, Hattori Y, Sakamoto S. Early breakage of a titanium volar locking plate for fixation of a distal radius fracture: case report. J Hand Surg Am. 2009; 34:907–9.
Article
9. Mehling I, Muller LP, Delinsky K, Mehler D, Burkhart KJ, Rommens PM. Number and locations of screw fixation for volar fixed-angle plating of distal radius fractures: biomechanical study. J Hand Surg Am. 2010; 35:885–91.
Article
10. Crosby SN, Fletcher ND, Yap ER, Lee DH. The mechanical stability of extra-articular distal radius fractures with respect to the number of screws securing the distal fragment. J Hand Surg Am. 2013; 38:1097–105.
Article
Full Text Links
  • JKSSH
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr