Treatment of Distal Radial Fractures John M. Bednar, M.D. Associate Clinical Professor Orthopaedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine and The Philadelphia Hand Center Incidence 643,000 per year United States 15% of all fractures, peak occurrence age 60 70, Classification - AO/OTA (Murray 2013) Indications and Treatment Options Radiographic Parameters for Reduction (ideal): 1
Radial angulation/inclination 16 to 28 degrees palmar tilt 0 to 22 degrees radial length 11 to 12 mm articular step off < 1 mm Radiographic Findings Consistent with Poor Clinical Result: (Altissimi) Ulnar inclination (radial angulation) < 5 degrees Palmar tilt > - 15 degrees (reverse tilt) Radial length > 5 mm loss Articular step off > 3 mm Radiographic Findings consistent with Good Clinical Results: (Altissimi, Kreder, McQueen) Ulna inclination (radial angulation) > 5 degrees Palmar tilt neutral Radial length neutral Articular step off < 2 mm Stable DRUJ Associated Intracarpal Soft Tissue Injury Geissler 60 patients: 41 (68%) with intra articular soft tissue injuries : 49% TFCC, 32%SL ligament 15%LT Hanker 65 patients: 55% TFCC, 75% SL, 30% chondral injury Lindau 50 patients: 78% TFCC, 54% SL, 16% LT, 32% chondral injury Richards 118 patients: TFCC 35% intra-articular & 53% extra-articular fractures, SL ligament tear 21.5% intra-articular & 6.7% extra-articular fractures, LT ligament 6.7%Intra-articular & 13.3% extra-articular fractures, Combined SL & LT in 5.6% of inta-articular fractures. Radiographic Correlation With Arthroscopic Findings Preop radiographs correlated with TFCC injury greater shortening and dorsal displacement in patients with TFCC injury. No radiographic correlation with interosseous ligament injury. Post reduction radiography under estimates fracture gap width. No significant difference in articular stepoff (Edwards) but arthroscopy in 33% (5 cases) found > 1mm step off after adequate closed reduction assessed by xray. Treatment Options External Fixation Indications: Dorsally displaced unstable fractures Limitations: volar lip fractures, impacted articular fragments, distraction for 8-12 weeks Advantages: Minimal surgical exposure of fracture Complications: Loss of reduction due to metaphyseal bone loss, finger stiffness/contracture Percutaneous Fixation Indications: dorsally displaced extra articular fracture, Intra articular fracture with minimal comminution Limitations: severe osteoporosis, comminution Advantages: limited surgical approach Complications: loss of reduction, nerve irritation, tendon irritation/rupture Fragment Specific Fixation Indications: articular incongruity, fracture instability Limitations: severe osteoporosis, proximal shaft extension, severe comminution of 2
articular surface, non compliant patient Advantages: independent fixation of each fragment, load sharing fixation, multi-planar Complications: Tendon irritation/rupture Dorsal Plate Indications: impacted articular fracture, dorsal rim fracture, dorsal ulnar corner fracture, carpal pathology fracture, intercarpal ligament injury Limitations: volar lip fractures, severe osteoporosis, severe comminution Advantages: easy surgical approach, dorsal buttress to deforming force Complications: extensor tendon irritation/rupture Volar Plate Indications: volar displaced fractures, dorsally unstable fractures, bilateral fractures, poly trauma Limitations: dorsal and radial marginal fractures, intra articular evaluation no possible Advantages: easy surgical approach, strong fixation allows early motion Complications: Flexor/extensor synovitis/tendon rupture, intra articular screw placement Arthroscopic Assisted Reduction Distal Radial Fracture Indications: young patient, intra-articular fracture, greater than 1 mm articular step off, significant displacement of radial fracture Results of Arthroscopic Assisted Reduction Accurate reduction of articular surface, Minimal capsular and adjacent soft tissue dissection and scarring. Significantly improved wrist ROM compared with open reduction(doi) Outcomes Long term outcome of nonsurgically treated distal radial fractures (Foldhazy 2007) 87 patients mean age 55 treated with closed reduction and casting 9-13 years follow up 52 of 66 patients with unilateral fractures were rated as excellent/good according to the Green and O Brien score as modified by Cooney et al (GOBC score) Fracture class according to AO did not correlate to outcome Considerable fracture displacements remained: dorsal angulation (mean 13 in <60 y, 18 in 60 y) radial shortening (mean 2 mm in <60 y, 3 mm in 60 y) 5 patients had remaining joint step-off (1 2 mm) after reduction, 1 developed mild osteoarthritis. Patients with an unsatisfactory outcome had sustained more displaced fractures that also healed with greater displacement The remaining subjective complaints were pain or reduced function during heavier tasks Outcome was not correlated to age Wrist mobility returned notably faster than grip strength Patients over 60 years of age recovered slower in both mobility and strength Closed reduction and plaster improved dorsal angulation but not radial shortening.. Radiographic outcomes of volar locking plating for distal radial fractures (Mignemi 2013) 185 fractures Normal palmar tilt 48%,radial angulation 43%, Articular congruence less than 2 mm 92%, radial height restored in 12% no assessment of functional outcome. Functional outcome and complications after volar plating for dorsally displaced, unstable 3
fractures of the distal radius (Rozenthal 2006) 41 patients mean age 53 years. Average followup 17 months mean radial height 11 mm, radial inclination 21 degrees, and volar tilt 5 degrees Average DASH score was 14 All good and excellent results by Gartland Werley scoring indicating minimal impairment in activities of daily living 9 complications: 4 fracture collapse, 3 hardware removal for tendon irritation, 1 wound dehiscence, 1 MP stiffness. Volar locking plates versus external fixation and adjuvant pin fixation in unstable distal radius fractures: A randomized, controlled study (Williksen, Frihagen, Hellund, Kvernmo, Husby 2013) 111 unstable distal radial fractures randomized to treatment with external fixation (EF) or volar locking plate (VLP) mean age 54 yrs old, 7 patients lost to follow up, 104 patients evaluated at 1 yr by visual analog scale pain score, Mayo wrist score, Quick DASH, range of motion and radiographic evaluation Mayo wrist score VLP 90, EF 85 Supination VLP 89, EF 85 Ulnar shortening VLP +1.1 mm, EF + 2.8 mm Quick DASH no significant difference Prospective multicenter trial of a plate for dorsal fixation of distal radius fractures Ring, Jupiter (Brennwald, Buchler, & Hasting, 1997) 22 patients pi plate 2.5 mm thick Average f/u 14 months Average ROM 76% Average grip strength 56% 5 patients extensor tendon irritation Functional outcome and complications following two types of dorsal plating for unstable fractures of the distal part of the radius (Rozenthal, Beredjiklian, & Bozentka 2003) 28 Patients 19 pi plate / 9 low profile plate Mean f/u 21 months 9 patients with pi plate extensor complications Patients treated with pi plate significantly increase risk of complications compared with low profile plate Low profile dorsal plating for dorsally angulated distal radius fractures: an outcomes study (Kamath, Zurakowski, & Day 2006) 30 Patients low profile plate ( 1.2 mm ) Median f/u 18 months 93% good / excellent outcomes 80% ROM / strength No plates removed No extensor tendon ruptures 1 EPL tenolysis Treatment of distal radius fractures with a low-profile dorsal plating system: an outcomes assessment. (Simic, Robinson, Gardner, Gelberman, Weiland, & Boyer 2006) 4
60 fracture 59 patients low profile plate Mean f/u 24 months No extensor tendon irritation or rupture 1 hardware removal ROM 80% Grip strength 90% Volar versus dorsal plating in the management of intra-articular distal radius fractures (Ruch, Papadonikolakis 1997) 34 patients 20 dorsal / 14 volar plate f/u 12 months No significant difference in DASH Volar collapse of fracture in 5 dorsal plates Dorsal : 1 extensor rupture Volar : 2 median neuropathy Complications of low-profile dorsal versus volar locking plates in the distal radius: a comparitive study (Yu, Makhni, Tabrizi, Rosenthal, & Day 2011) 100 Patients 104 cases 57 dorsal / 47 volar f/u 44 +/- 21 months Dorsal low profile plates not associated with more tendon irritation of rupture Volar plating associated with higher rate of neuropathic complications References: 1.) Altissimi M, Antenucci R, Fiacca C, Mancini GB. Long term results of conservative treatment of fractures of the distal radius. Clin orthop, (206): 202-210, 1986. 2.) Altissimi M, Mancini GB, Azzara A, Ciaffoloni E. Early and late displacememnt of fractures of the distal radius. The prediction of instability. Int Orthop, 18(2): 61-65, 1994. 3.) Catalano, LW. Et al: Displaced Intra-articular fractures of the distal radius. JBJS 79A(9): 1290 1312, 1997. 4.) Doi, K et al: Intra-articular fractures of the distal aspect of the radius: Arthroscopically assisted reduction compared with open reduction and internal fixation. JBJS 81A(8): 1093 1110, 1999. 5.) Edwards, CC. Et al: Intra-articular distal radius fractures: Arthroscopic assessment of radiographically assisted reduction. J Hand Surg. 26A(6): 1036 1041, 2001. 6.) Foldhazy Z, Tornkvist H, Elmstedt E, Andersson G, Hagsten B, Ahrengart L. Long term outcome of nonsurgically treated distal radial fractures. J Hand Surg. 32: 1374-1384, 2007. 7.) Geissler, WB et al: Intracarpal soft-tissue lesions associated with an intra-articular fracture of the distal end of the radius. JBJS 78A(3): 357 365, 1996. 8.) Hanker GJ. Intraarticular fractures of the distal radius. In: McGinty JB, Caspari RB, Jackson RW, Poehling GG, (eds). Operative Arthroscopy. Philadelphia: Lippincott- Raven Publishers, 987-997, 1996. 9.) Kamath, Zurakowski, & Day. Low profile dorsal plating for dorsally angulated distal radius fractures: an outcomes study J Hand Surg 31A: 1061-7, 2006 10.) Kreder HJ, Agel J, McKee MD, Schemitsch EH, Stephen D, Hanel DP. A randomized, controlled trial of distal radius fractures with metaphyseal displacement but without joint incongruity: closed reduction and casting versus closed reduction, spanning external fixation, and optional percutaneous K-wires. J Orthop Trtauma 20(2): 115-121, 2006. 11.) Kreder HJ, Hanel DP, Agel J, Trumble TE, McKee M, Schemitsch EH, Stephen D. Indirect reduction and percutaneous fixation versus open reduction and internal 5
fixation for displaced intra-articular fractures of the distal radius: A randomized controlled trial. JBJS Br 87B(6): 829-836, 2005. 12.) Lindau, T., Adlercreutz,C., Aspenberg, P.: Peripheral tears of the triangular Fibrocartilage Complex cause distal radioulnar joint instability after distal radial fractures. J Hand Surg 25A(3): 464 468, 2000. 13.) Lindau, T, Arner,M., Hagberg, L.: Inraarticular lesions in distal fractures of the radius in young adults. J Hand Surg 22B(5): 638 643, 1997. 14.) McQueen M, Caspers J. Colles fracture: Does the anatomical result affect the final function? JBJS 70B 649-651, 1996. 15.) Mignemi ME, Byram IR, Wolfe CC, Fan KH, Koehler EA, Block JJ, Jordanov MI, Watson JT, Weikert DR, Lee DH. Radiographic outcomes of volar locking plating for distal radial fractures. J Hand Surg 38: 40-48, 2013. 16.) Murray J, Gross L. Treatment of distal radial fractures. AAOS appropriate use criteria summary. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 21: 502-505, 2013. 17.) Richards, RS. Et al: Arthroscopic diagnosis of intra-articular soft tissue injuries associated with distal radial fractures. J Hand Surg 22A(5): 772 776, 1997. 18.) Ring D, Jupiter JB, Brennwald J, Buchler U, & Hasting H. 2 nd. Prospective multicenter trial of a plate for dorsal fixation of distal radius fractures J Hand Surg22: 777-784, 1997 19.) Rozenthal TD, Beredjiklian PK, & Bozentka DJ. Functional outcome and complications following two types of dorsal plating for unstable fractures of the distal part of the radius JBJS 85A: 1956-60, 2003 20.) Rozenthal TD, Blazar PE. Functional outcomes and complications after volar plating for dorsally displaced, unstable fractures of the distal radius J Hand Surg 31: 359-365, 2006 21.) Ruch D, Papadonikolakis. Volar versus dorsal plating in the management of intraarticular distal radius fractures J Hand Surg 31A: 9-16,1997 22.) Simic PM, RobinsonJ, Gardner MJ, Gelberman RH, Weiland AJ, Boyer MI Treatment of distal radius fractures with a low-profile dorsal plating system: an outcomes assessment. J Hand Surg 31A: 382-6, 2006 23.) Trumble TE. Et al: Intra-articular fractures of the distal aspect of the radius JBJS 80A(4): 582 600, 1998 24.) Williksen JH, Frihagen F, Hellund JC, Kvernmo HD, Husby T. Volar locking plates versus external fixation and adjuvant pin fixation in unstable distal radius fractures: A randomized, controlled study J Hand Surg 38A: 1469-1476, 2013 25.) Yu YR, Makhni MC, Tabrizi S, Rosenthal TD, Mundanthanam G, Day CS. Complications of low-profile dorsal versus volar locking plates in the distal radius: a comparitive study J Hand Surg 36A: 1135-41, 2011 6