Type C fractures of distal radius treated with 2.4 mm locking compression plates

Objective To analyze the outcomes of type C distal radial fractures treated with 2.4 mm locking compression plates (LCP).Methods From January 2008 to December 2010,43 patients (43sides) with type C distal radial fracture were treated with 2.4 mm LCP.They were 40 women and 3 men,withan average age of 60 years (from 53 to 78 years).According to the AO classification,13 cases were of type C1,18 cases of type C2 and 12 cases of type C3.All were fixated through the volar approach and bone defects were treated with bone grafts.Volar tilt,radial inclination,radial shortening,joint discrepancy were measuredpreoperation,immediately,1,3 and 12 months postoperation and compared between groups of normal bone density (14 cases),low bone density (18 cases) and osteoporosis (6 cases).Results The 43 patients were followed up for an average of 17 months (from 6 to 34 months).All fractures united well after an average of 8 weeks except for one case of malunion.By the Gartland-Werley scoring system,8 cases were rated as excellent,32 cases as good and 3 cases as fair,with an excellent to good rate of 93.0％.The volar tilt,radial inclination,radial shortening,joint discrepancy were improved significantly in all patients ( P ＜ 0.05).No significant differences were observed in reduction loss between immediately and 12 months postoperation ( P ＞ 0.05).The Gartland-Werley scores for the groups of normal bone density,low bone density and osteoporosis were respectively 3.9 ± 1.6,3.7 ± 1.3 and 5.7 ±0.5,with significant differences between osteoporotic cases and others ( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Treatment of type C fracture of distal radius with 2.4 mm LCP can lead to good results radiologically and functionally.Osteoporosis may influence the functional recovery of the wrist. Key words: Radius fractures;  Bone plates;  Fracture fixation, internal;  Treatment outcomes