Background: The distal radius fracture is the most common fracture seen in an emergency, making up 17% of all fractures. It is complex to treat affected comminuted distal radius fracture. Especially when the fractures are dorsally comminuted, internal fixation via a dorsal approach should be considered.
Objective: To evaluate the results of dorsal plating in patients with impacted comminuted distal radius fracture.
Patients and methods: This study was done at Al-Azhar University Hospitals, Air-Force military hospital & El-Mattaryah teaching hospital, during the period of December 2019 and December 2020. 13 males and 7 females (20 fractures) aged 22 to 59 (mean 43.2) years underwent fixation of distal radius fracture by dorsal plating with bone grafting. The mode of trauma was high energy mechanism in 11 patients and low energy mechanism in 9 patients. Radiological and clinical outcomes was evaluated.
Results: In the outpatient clinic, twenty patients were followed up for evaluation of fracture healing, ROM, hand grip and return to work. The Modified Mayo Wrist Score was 72.5% after at least 6 months follow up.
Conclusion: Dorsal plating with bone grafting for impacted distal radius with dorsal comminution allows accurate reduction and maintenance with early mobilization, good function and an early return to work.
Keywords: ORIF, Distal radius, Dorsal approach, Intra-articular, Bone grafting.