Tendon pathology in patients with distal radius palmar locked plate: incidence and clinical outcome of their treatment.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to report the incidence of tendon complications in patients with distal radius fractures treated with volar locking plates and the clinical results after plate removal. Material and Methods 992 patients with distal radial fracture treated with volar locking plates were retrosopectively reviewed. Cases with plate removal due to tendon irritation were included in this study. Clinical results were evaluated using DASH score and Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) for pain at rest, pain in activity and functional VAS. Results Thirty four patients had tendon complications. 20 flexor tendonitis (2%), 13 extensor tendonitis (1,3%), and one flexor tendon rupture. All cases were treated only with implant removal. Mean final results were for flexor tendonitis: VAS for pain at rest 1, VAS for pain in activity 1, VAS for function 8, and DASH 13. For extensor tenosinovitis cases, VAS for pain at rest was 0, in activity 3, functional VAS 9 and DASH 15. Conclusion Tendon complications are infrequent in patients with distal radial fractures treated with volar locking plate. The early removal of the implant improves tendon irritation symptoms and prevents tendon rupture.

Keywords

• Radio, Complicaciones, Fractura, Tendones. Radius
• complications
• fracture
• tendons.