Volar Plating: An Option for Fracture Treatment
Volar plating is an option for people with a large variety of fracture patterns. These include intraarticular, partial articular, and extraarticular fractures. There have been a number of studies evaluating the procedure. According to a recent systematic review by Alter et al., the procedure had a 5% complication rate, the most common of which was nerve dysfunction. Tendon injuries were also reported in 3.5% of patients, with extensor tendon complications being more common.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Volar Plate Injuries
Volar plate injuries often occur in sports-related accidents or in the course of a fall. Trauma can rupture or tear the volar plate, and symptoms include pain or swelling around the PIP joint. Severe injuries may also result in dislocation or joint instability. To determine the cause of the injury, the first step is to seek medical attention. An X-ray is needed to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other fractures.
Precautions and Care for Volar Splints
Volar splints must be kept clean and dry to prevent infection. Patients may be tempted to stick objects into the splint, but this can cause the padding to wrinkle and cause pressure injuries. Moreover, it can lead to skin cuts and infections. Volar splinting can also reduce range of motion, and physical therapy may be necessary after the splint is removed. However, the recovery time can be long and difficult.
Surgical Treatment for Severe Cases
In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the volar plate. Hand surgeon Uzma Rehman in Oakland County, Michigan, has repaired hundreds of volar plate injuries. Depending on the extent of the injury, volar plate surgery can involve repairing damaged ligaments, releasing scarred tendons, or removing the trapped volar plate.
Complications and Considerations
Volar locking plate fixation is an increasingly popular surgical option for distal radial fractures. The most common complication with volar plating is flexor pollicis longus tendon rupture. The volar aspect of the distal radius is concave in the sagittal plane. It is bound by the "watershed line" ridge.
Treatment for Volar Retinacular Cysts
Volar retinacular cysts are small growths that may be painful, but they can also cause real problems. It's important to have them diagnosed in a timely manner. This way, your surgeon will have a better idea of the cause. The best way to treat a volar retinacular cyst is to visit a retinal specialist.
Effectiveness and Use of Volar Plating
Volar plating is an effective treatment for a variety of patients. Its biomechanical advantages make volar plating an excellent choice for patients with unstable fractures of the distal radius. In addition to improving range of motion, volar plating has been shown to maintain reductions through standard follow-up intervals. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the volar plate. Hand surgeon Uzma Rehman in Oakland County, Michigan, has repaired hundreds of volar plate injuries. Depending on the extent of the injury, volar plate surgery can involve repairing damaged ligaments, releasing scarred tendons, or removing the trapped volar plate.
Considerations for Fracture Treatment
Volar plating is one of the most commonly used techniques by orthopedic surgeons. However, in some fracture patterns, volar plating may not be sufficient and may require the use of multiple plates. In such cases, the most common combinations of volar plating are radial column/volar plating and dorsal/volar plating.
