Education Center
Current Concepts in Fixation: Volume VIII
Internal Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures
Am J Orthop. 2007;36(12 suppl 2):2-7.
Author and Disclosure Information
Richard Y. Kim, MD, and Melvin P. Rosenwasser, MD
Dr. Kim is Co-Director of Hand Surgery, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey.
Dr. Rosenwasser is Director, Orthopedic Hand and Trauma Service, New York–Presbyterian Hospital Columbia Campus, New York, New York.
When adequate fracture reduction cannot be achieved with closed techniques, internal fixation can restore anatomy and improve functional outcomes. Volar plating, dorsal plating, and radial plating are well-described techniques that are useful in isolation or in combination, depending on the specific fracture pattern. In this article, we review each of these techniques and provide case examples to illustrate their applicability.