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Functional Outcome and Complications at 2.5 Years Following Volar Locking Plate Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Hand and Microsurgery

Abstract

Distal radius fractures are increasingly treated by internal fixation, but there have been relatively few studies relating to functional outcome at 12 months or more. The aim of this study was to ascertain the patient reported function of the wrist at a minimum of 12 months following fixation of a distal radius fracture, the time taken to return to work, and the complication rate. We conducted a retrospective review of 187 consecutive patients treated by a specialist hand and wrist trauma team at a tertiary referral unit over a 5 year period. Mean age was 57.3 years (range 16–93). Median time to surgery was 4 days (interquartile range 2–9). Median follow up was 31 months (interquartile range 23–41 months). The median PRWE score was 3; (range 0–83). There was no difference in outcome in patients who had surgery delayed by greater than 2 weeks (p > 0.05). The median time to return to work was 5 weeks (interquartile range 1–8 weeks). There were 15 complications (8 %) including 3 tendon injuries. We have demonstrated an early return to work in patients who were employed, a low complication rate, and highly favourable functional outcomes at a mean of 30 months postoperatively. We recommend the use of the DVR plate and involvement of a dedicated hand and wrist trauma team for treatment of unstable fractures of the distal radius.

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All human studies were approved by the appropriate ethics committee and have therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. All persons included in the study gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool Upper Limb Unit, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK

    Robert J. MacFarlane & Graham Cheung

  2. Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Leighton Hospital, Middlewich Road, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 4QJ, UK

    David Miller

  3. The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7AG, UK

    Lynn Wilson, Carl Meyer, Cronan Kerin & David James Ford

  4. Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK

    Robert J. MacFarlane

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  1. Robert J. MacFarlane
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  2. David Miller
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  3. Lynn Wilson
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  4. Carl Meyer
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  7. Graham Cheung
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Correspondence to Robert J. MacFarlane.

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MacFarlane, R.J., Miller, D., Wilson, L. et al. Functional Outcome and Complications at 2.5 Years Following Volar Locking Plate Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures. J Hand Microsurg 7, 18–24 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12593-014-0155-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12593-014-0155-1

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