Ultra-distal Volar Rim Fracture, Case Presentation & Surgical Technique
Distal radius fractures involving the volar rim could be challenging to manage. The short radiolunate ligament which originates proximally from the volar rim plays an important role in radio-carpal joint stability. Literatures have shown that volar carpal subluxation could develop if the volar rim fragment was not appropriately stabilized. In this video, we present a special case with an extremely small volar rim fragment in an intra-articular comminuted distal radius fracture. Intraoperatively, we found that this fragment was flipped over up-side down. We then reduced the fragment 180 degrees in order to put it back to its normal position. Radio-carpal instability was shown under fluoroscopy when the volar rim fragment was not secured. Surgical technique for this ultra-distal volar rim fracture fixation is present in detail. Follow-up X-ray and CT showed the evidence of adequate union progress and well aligned radio-carpal axis. This case emphasizes the importance of understanding the biomechanics of volar wrist ligaments and intraoperative visualization of volar rim fragment.