Is there a benefit of proximal locking screws in osteoporotic distal radius fractures? – A biomechanical study

We performed a prospective cohort study on a consecutive series of 35 unstable, dorsally displaced distal radius fractures, which were treated with palmar locking plates and SmartLock locking screws. There were 17 men and 18 women with a mean age of 44 years who were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 10 months. All the fractures healed at a mean time of 7 weeks. Radiographs did not show any change in alignment from the initial postoperative period until fracture union. The average Mayo wrist score was 90 after fracture union. One patient had an early loss of fracture reduction and one patient developed complex regional pain syndrome. There was no difference in the quality of life before and after surgery. Palmar plate fixation using SmartLock locking screws is effective and safe in stabilising unstable dorsally displaced distal radius fracture and produces good radiological and functional outcomes.

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Multidirectional volar fixed-angle plating using cancellous locking screws for distal radius fractures – Evaluation of three screw configurations in an extra-articular fracture model

Wiener klinische Wochenschrift ◽

10.1007/s00508-010-1488-9 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 123 (1-2) ◽

pp. 4-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Patrick Weninger ◽

Enrico Dall'Ara ◽

Herwig Drobetz ◽

Wolfgang Nemec ◽

Markus Figl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Distal Radius ◽

Distal Radius Fractures ◽

Fracture Model ◽

Radius Fractures ◽

Articular Fracture ◽

Fixed Angle ◽

Locking Screws

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Comparative clinical study of locking screws versus smooth locking pegs in volar plating of distal radius fractures

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) ◽

10.1177/1753193413517806 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 39 (7) ◽

pp. 755-760 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

J. G. Boretto ◽

N. Pacher ◽

D. Giunta ◽

G. L. Gallucci ◽

V. Alfie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Distal Radius ◽

Clinical Setting ◽

Early Postoperative Period ◽

Distal Radius Fractures ◽

Retrospective Evaluation ◽

Volar Plating ◽

Radius Fractures ◽

Locking Screws ◽

Comparative Clinical Study ◽

Fragment Displacement

The present study was performed to test the null hypothesis on no difference in stability of fixation after volar plating of intra-articular distal radius fractures (AO C2-C3) with either locking smooth pegs or locking screws in a clinical setting. A retrospective evaluation included adult patients with C2-C3 AO fractures treated with a volar plate with locking smooth pegs or locking screws. Radiographic assessment was performed to evaluate extra- and intra-articular parameters in the early postoperative period and after bone union. Twenty-seven consecutive patients were included. Thirteen cases had fixation with locking screws and 14 had fixation with locking smooth pegs. Both groups had bone fragment displacement after fixation. However, there were no significant differences between the groups either in extra- or intra-articular parameters defined by Kreder et al. (1996). Our study shows that, in a clinical setting, there is no difference in stability fixation between locking screws or smooth locking pegs in C2-C3 distal radius fractures.

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