Biomechanical evaluation of the dorsal double plating angle-stable fixator versus conventional volar plating for the fixation of intra-articular distal radius fracture

Abstract

The conventional surgical method with volar plating has been described the good results in young patient. However, the elderly patients especially who has the osteoporotic bone may have higher risk of loss of reduction in conventional types of fixation. The aim of this study is to compare the latest treatment angle-stable construct with conventional model for unstable three fragmental intar-articular distal radius fracture (AO 23-C2.1) under various Axial-loads (10 N, 25 N, 50 N and 100 N) conditions using finite element analysis in order to find the stiffer surgical methods to facilitate the anatomic reduction and maintenance of the reduction. The fixation methods consist of 1 I-shape styloid plate and 1 intermediate dorsal plate (Group 1), single T-shape volar plate (Group 2). This study analysed the rigidity base on linear load-displacement graph. To compare the rigidity of fixation methods analysed under the applied axialloads. The displacement and von Mises stress values showed the superior stability and rigidity for dorsal angle-stable double plates construct.