Angle Stable Plate or Angle Stable Locked Nail Fixation in Distal Radius Fractures: An Experimental Examination and Phase I Clinical Study

Distal radius fractures are typical and frequent fracture of elderly woman with reduced bone density. The angle stable plate, often also multidirectional is today the most common stabilisation device. Because of the introduction of bulky and bended implants as the Micro nail or Targon DR which require difficult opening of the bone with awles we decided to test the XS radius (XSR) nail which is a 4,5mm or 3,5mm straight nail and which is introduced after guide wire placement and over drilling with a canulated drill of the same diameter. It is locked parallel to the joint in 3 different directions with angular stability with threaded wires. Material and methods. 16 radius sawbones were osteotomized corresponding to a A3 Fracture and stabilised with a angle stable plate (8) and XS nail (8). The deformation of the XS group however was 20% lower. Results. Both types of osteosynthesis showed good stability The deformation of the XS group was 20% lower. Conclusions. Both angular stable plate and XSR nail can be used in unstable distal radius fracture fixation. The mainly intraosseus position of the nail and saving of the pronator quadratus as well as lower deformation are in favour of the XSR nail.