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Fragment specific fixation with APTUS wrist system for volar rim fractures of the distal radius: a multicentric study

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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Volar rim fractures of the distal radius are a spectrum of pathology that must be well identified and treated to achieve good outcomes and avoid surgical failures. New devices of fragment specific fixation have been developed during the last decades to fix this fragment. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the ability of APTUS® wrist distal radius system to securely fix different types of volar rim fractures.

Methods

Patients with at least 1 year of follow-up and a preoperative CT-scan evaluation of the fracture pattern were included in the study. Clinical, radiological and functional outcomes were assessed.

Results

Sixty-eight patients with an average follow-up of 34, 1 months (12–61) were included in the study. There were no clinical and radiological complications, including loss of reduction, device failure and tendon ruptures. No patients required hardware removal. Wrist range of motion in flexion–extension averaged 96°, while in pronation–supination 144°. At final follow-up mean visual analogue scale pain was 1,8. Questionnaires, as dissabilities of the arm, shouldder and hand (DASH) score and patient-related wrist evolution (PRWE) score were 6,6 and 3 respectively. Grip strenght measured 86% compared to the normal side.

Conclusion

APTUS® wrist presents a versatile set of fragment specific fixation plates able to easily and securely fix all types of volar rim fracture. The system can be used with other devices without any kind of interference between them. When correctly placed and used with the right indications, no late complications can be recorded.

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Funding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery Unit of the Hand, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy

    Marco Biondi, Andrea Poggetti, Prospero Bigazzi, Sandra Pfanner & Giulio Lauri

  2. Microsurgery and Hand Surgery Unit, ASST Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy

    Alessandro Fagetti

  3. Division of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (DBSV), University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

    Agostino Di Maro

Authors
  1. Marco Biondi
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  2. Andrea Poggetti
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  3. Alessandro Fagetti
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  4. Agostino Di Maro
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  5. Prospero Bigazzi
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  6. Sandra Pfanner
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  7. Giulio Lauri
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Correspondence to Marco Biondi.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Study was approved by the Local Ethical Committee as protocol number 19/2018 of Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Biondi, M., Poggetti, A., Fagetti, A. et al. Fragment specific fixation with APTUS wrist system for volar rim fractures of the distal radius: a multicentric study. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 48, 4577–4584 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-021-01710-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-021-01710-3

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