Dorsal spanning plates are frequently utilized to manage comminuted intra-articular distal radius fractures, but there is little literature on combining them with augmented fixation in complex cases. We present a 43-year-old man who fell 5 ft onto his outstretched right hand. On examination, there was gross swelling and tenderness of the right wrist with no neurovascular deficit. Radiographs confirmed a comminuted intra-articular displaced distal radius fracture. He was treated with a dorsal spanning plate fixation combined with radiostyloid and volar buttress plates. Follow-up at 2 months showcased intact hardware with good fracture healing. The dorsal spanning plate was removed 4 months after the procedure with radiographs demonstrating adequate alignment and healing without failure. The patient reported no complaints and minimal functional disability. We highlight a case of augmenting a dorsal spanning plate with fragment-specific plate fixation for a comminuted intra-articular displaced distal radius fracture.
Keywords: augmented fixation; comminuted; distal radius fracture; dorsal spanning plate; intra-articular.
Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. © The Author(s) 2024.