Evaluation of a polyaxial angle-stable volar plate in a distal radius C- XXXX model--a biomechanical study.

@entity1 @entity174 @entity2850 @entity8030 @entity7334
INTRODUCTION: Polyaxial angle-stable plating is thought to be particularly beneficial in the management of @entity7334 of the distal radius. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the technique provides stability to match that of conventional (fixed-angle) angle-stable constructs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In seven pairs of @entity1 cadaver radii, an Arbeitsgemeinschaft f  r Osteosynthese (AO) 23 @entity8030 intra-articular @entity174 was created. One radius of each pair received a juxta-articular 2.4-mm @entity2850 ( @entity2850 ) Volar Distal Radius Plate, whilst the contralateral one received a 2.4-mm Variable Angle @entity2850 ( @entity2850 ) Two-Column Volar Distal Radius Plate (both plates: Synthes, Oberdorf, Switzerland). Parameters tested were construct stiffness (static axial loading with 150 N), range of motion and secondary loss of reduction (dynamic 150 N axial loading over 5000 cycles). Stiffness and range of motion were measured both pre- and post-cycling. RESULTS: The polyaxial constructs were significantly stiffer, both before and after cyclic testing. However, the two-column plates showed a significant loss of stiffness during cyclic testing. The range of motion was significantly greater, both initially and at the end of cyclic testing, in the fixed-angle constructs. The conventional constructs had significantly greater secondary loss of reduction. CONCLUSION: The polyaxial two-column plate tested in this study provides a biomechanically sound construct for the management of @entity7334 of the distal radius.
