Treatment for type-C fracture of the distal radius with locking compression plate and bone allograft

Objective To study the clinical outcome of treatment for type-C fracture of the distal radius with locking compression plate and bone allograft.Methods From Jan.2003 to Aug.2008,22 cases of type-C fracture of the distal radius were treated with open reduction and internal fixation with T-shape locking compression plate by the volar approach.Bone allografts were implanted into the fractures.According to the standard of AO,all cases were classified as type C1 in 12 cases,type C2 in 6 cases,type C3 in 4 cases.All the cases aged from 28 to 73 years with the average of 58 years.Rehabilitation exercises were followed postoperatively in the early stage.Results Follow-up ranged from 6 to 18 months.All the fractures were healed and the healing time was from 12 to 24 weeks with the mean of 16 weeks.According to the measurement of the X-ray films,the degrees of the volar tilt were from 5 to 14 with the mean degree of 7.9.The degrees of the ulnar tilt were from 15 to 23 with the mean degree of 18.3.The wrist functions were evaluated according to the Gartland and Werley scoring.The result was excellent in 13 cases,good in 6 cases,fair in 2 cases and poor in 1 case.The excellent and good rate was 86.4%.There were no complications in all cases.Conclusion Locking compression plate and bone allograft can prevent the subsidence of the radial articular surface and achieve satisfactory clinical outcome for treatment of type-C fracture of the distal radius.