J Korean Soc Surg Hand.  2013 Dec;18(4):178-183. 10.12790/jkssh.2013.18.4.178.

Failure of Distal Locking Screws in an Intraarticular Distal Radius Fracture Treated with Volar Locking Plate Fixation

• Lee SK
• Lee SH
• Choi UH

• KMID: 1840500
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12790/jkssh.2013.18.4.178

Abstract

Distal radius fracture is one of the most common fractures treated in the orthopedic field. The application of locking plate principle to the distal radius has allowed comminuted distal radius fractures involving the articular surface to be effectively treated by open reduction and internal fixation. The authors experienced a case of failure of distal locking screws in an intraarticular distal radius fracture treated with volar locking plate fixation.

Keyword

Intraarticular distal radius fracture; Locking plate; Failure of screw

MeSH Terms

Orthopedics
Radius Fractures*
Radius*

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Initial (A) anteroposterior and (B) lateral radiographic view after injury, showing the distal radius fracture.

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  Fig. 2. At operative day (A) anteroposterior and (B) lateral radiographs after open reduction and internal fixation with volar locking plate.

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  Fig. 3. Radiographs show (A) dorsal angulation of the fracture following failure of screws. Despite the failure of screws, the lateral radiograph showed neutral alignment of the distal radius articular surface with (B) minimal shortening on the anteroposterior plane. (C) Photographs shows breakage of distal locking screws of volar locking plate due to overload from trekking pole.

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  Fig. 4. Twenty weeks after the last surgery, (A) anteroposterior and (B) lateral radiographs show consolidation at the fracture site.

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