Efficacy of locking plate fixation in stabilizing distal radius fractures in patients aged 50 years or over

摘要

Locking plates are increasingly used to fix distal radius fractures after open reduction and it is expected that, as the screws lock into the plate providing rigid support, this will prevent collapse at the fracture site during healing. This works well in normal density bone, but we do not know whether it does in patients with osteoporosis. Low bone mineral density and osteoporosis are known to be increasingly common in patients aged 50 years or over (Orbay and Fernandez, 2004). We investigated whether locking plate fixation (Synthes 2.4 mm LCP distal radius plate system) maintained reduction in this age group by retrospectively reviewing radiographs of 21 of 28 patients over the age of 50 years treated in our unit between June 2008 and April 2010.