Influence of volar margin of the lunate fossa fragment fixation on distal radius fracture outcomes: A retrospective series

Table 1 Characteristics of the patients

Group	Fixed, n = 16	Unfixed, n = 22	P value
Sex, n (%)			0.052
Male	4 (25)	13 (59.1)
Female	12 (75)	9 (40.9)
Age (yr)	54.0 ± 16.0	51.4 ± 13.2	0.59
Radius fracture, n (%)			0.19
B1	1 (6.3)	2 (9.1)
B3	4 (25)	8 (36.4)
C1	3 (18.7)	0 (0)
C2	0 (0)	2 (9.1)
C3	8 (50)	10 (45.5)
Imaging features	AO classification	AO classification
Reduction and fixation of the VMLF fragments, n (%)	Fix with screws or sutures	Fracture is small and not fixed
Fixed with AO distal radius volar locking plates	14 (87.5)	18 (81.8)	0.582
Volar and dorsal locking plates	2 (12.5)	1 (4.5)	0.582
Dorsal locking plate	0 (0)	1 (4.5)	1.0
Locking plates and ancillary fixation with Kirschner wires or screws	0 (0)	2 (9.1)	0.4993
External fixation with plaster	6 (37.5)	11 (50)	0.6638

AO: Association for Osteosynthesis; VMLF: Volar margin of the lunate fossa.

Table 2 Outcomes in the unfixed group and fixed group during follow-up

Group	Fixed, n = 16	Unfixed, n = 22	P value
Wrist instability at 1, 3, and 6 mo			< 0.001
Instability, n (%)	4 (25)	19 (86.4)
DISI	4	19
VISI	0	0
Stability, n (%)	12 (75)	3 (13.6)
ERLF, n (%)			0.019
> 25°	0 (0)	10 (45.5)
≤ 25°	16 (100)	12 (54.5)
Disability of the wrist at 1 year
Mayo, mean ± SD	94.0 ± 5.7	68.0 ± 15.1	< 0.001
DASH, mean ± SD	4.6 ± 2.5	28.5 ± 19.5	< 0.001

ERLF: Effective radiolunate flexion; DASH: Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand; DISI: Dorsal intercalated segment instability; VISI: Volar intercalated segmental instability; SD: Standard deviation.