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Review
. 2015 Jun 19:1:14.
doi: 10.1051/sicotj/2015012.

Distal radius anatomy applied to the treatment of wrist fractures by plate: a review of recent literature

Laurent Obert  1 , François Loisel  2 , Nicolas Gasse  3 , Daniel Lepage  1
Affiliations
Review

Distal radius anatomy applied to the treatment of wrist fractures by plate: a review of recent literature

Laurent Obert et al. SICOT J. .

Abstract

Few studies on the anatomy of the radial epiphysis have been published in the past 10 years. However, with the availability of new intra- and extra-medullary implants and the recent rash of avoidable iatrogenic injuries, now is the time for a more detailed description of the metaphyseal-epiphyseal regions in the distal radius. Published studies on distal radius anatomy in recent years have focused on three aspects: distal limit and watershed line, dorsal tubercle, and wrist columns. Furthermore, a fresh look at distal radius biomechanics shows that the loads experienced by the distal radius vary greatly. This information should be taken into account during volar plating of distal radius fractures.

Keywords: Anatomy; Distal radius; Volar plate.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The four surfaces (anterior, medial, posterior, and lateral) of the distal radius are shown from left to right, along with the styloid process and dorsal tubercle.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Volar view of the distal radius showing, in dotted line, the anatomical region of interest.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
One oblique and one anterior view of the distal radius showing the more proximal pronator quadratus line (solid line) and the watershed line (dashed line).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The area where a plate is applied is more ulnar than radial. Plate design should be based on this principle, and should not be too radial because the ulnar column is further forward than the radial column.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
A superior view of the wrist showing the distal dorsal (Lister’s) tubercle and the EPL groove (dotted line).
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
An oblique view of the distal radius showing the wrist columns (medial and lateral).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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