Abstract
Surgical treatment of distal radius fractures with palmar plates has gained popularity as the preferred approach to achieve anatomical fracture reposition. One hundred and thirty four radii of human cadavers were examined to elucidate the anatomy of the distal radius, especially the transition of the anterior into the lateral surface and a new term was given: promontory of radius. The promontory was located on the lateral surface between the changing of the convex to the concave curvature and the base of the styloid process. The anterior surface increased gradually from the ulnar notch to the lateral surface and formed the “base” of the promontory. The length of the promontory on the lateral surface measured 14–28 mm (mean 20.766 mm, SD 2.69 mm). The width of the promontory was found in between 10 and 27 mm (mean 13.857 mm, SD 2.14 mm). The width of the distal radius was 16–38 mm (mean 31.015 mm, SD 3.26 mm) and did not show any statistical correlation to the promontory. On the anterior surface the minimal width of promontory measured 4.9 mm, the maximal one 17.9 mm (mean 8.95 mm, SD 3.60). The height of the promontory on the anterior surface ranged in between 1.2 and 4.3 mm (mean 2.90 mm, SD 1.05 mm). The promontory of radius must be kept in mind to avoid any dorsal dislocation of the radial fragment often described as complication of intraarticular fractures. Based on this anatomical survey the data can be used for a new palmar radius plate designs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arora R, Lutz M, Fritz D, Zimmermann R, Oberladstätter J, Gabl M (2005) Palmar locking plate for treatment of unstable dorsal dislocated distal radius fracture. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 125:399–404
Arora R, Lutz M, Zimmermann R, Krappinger D, Gabl M, Pechlaner S (2007) Limits of palmar locking plate osteosynthesis of unstable distal radius fractures. Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir 39(1):34–41
Braus H, Elze C (1954) Anatomie des Menschen. Band 1, Bewegungsapparat. 3. Auflage. Springer, Berlin
Disse J (1896) Skelettlehre. In: KV Bardelebens Handbuch der Anatomie des Menschen, Band I. Fischer, Jena
Gegenbaur C (1888) Lehrbuch der Anatomie des Menschen. 3. Auflage. Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig
Holla SJ, Vettivel S, Chandi G (1996) Bony markers at the distal end of the radius for estimating handedness and radial length. Ann Anat 178(2):191–195
Hollinshead H (1964) Anatomy for Surgeons, vol 3. Back and limbs. Holber Medical Division, Harper & Row, New York
Jupiter JB et al (1997) Repair of five distal radius fractures with an investigational cancellous bone cement: a preliminary report. J Orthop Trauma 11:110–116
Knussmann R (1988) Anthropologie. Handbuch der vergleichenden Anatomie des Menschen. Band 1. Fischer, New York
Koo SC, Ho ST (2006) Delayed rupture of flexor pollicis longus tendon after volar plating of the distal radius. Hand Surgery 11:67–70
Kopsch F (1914) Rauber´s Lehrbuch der Anatomie des Menschen. Band 2. Knochen, Bänder. Thieme, Leipzig
Lanz T, Wachsmuth W (1959) Praktische Anatomie. 1. Band, Arm. Springer, Berlin
Liporace FA et al (2005) A biomechanical Comparison of a dorsal 3.5 mm T-plate and a volar fixed-angle plate in a model of dorsally unstable distal radius fractures. J Orthop Trauma 19(3):187–191
Murakami K, Abe Y, Takahashi K (2007) Surgical treatment of unstable distal radius fractures with volar locking plates. J Orthop Sci 12:134–140
Pechlaner S, et al. (2007) Distal radius fractures—aetiology, treatment and outcome. Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir 39(1):19–28
Poirier P, Charpy A (1911) Traité d´anatomie humaine. Tome 1. Paris, Masson
Rozenthal TD, Blazar PE (2006) Functional outcome and complications after volar plating for dorsally displaced, unstable fractures of the distal radius. J Hand Surg (Am) 31(3):359–365
Sieglbauer F (1963) Lehrbuch der normalen Anatomie des Menschen. 9. Auflage. Urban & Schwarzenberg, Wien
Tandler J (1919) Lehrbuch der systematischen Anatomie. 1. Band, Knochen-, Gelenk-, und Muskellehre. Vogel, Leipzig
Thiel W (1992) Die Konservierung ganzer Leichen in natürlichen Farben. (The preservation of the whole corps with natural color) Anat Anat 174:185–195
Tountas CP, Bergman RA (1993) Anatomic variations of the upper extremity. Churchill Livingstone, New York
Williams PL (1999) Gray’s anatomy 38th Eng. Ed Churchill Livingstone, London
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Windisch, G., Clement, H., Tanzer, K. et al. Promontory of radius: a new anatomical description on the distal radius. Surg Radiol Anat 29, 629–633 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-007-0264-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-007-0264-7