Morphometry of Distal End Radius- Surgical Implication in Colles' Fracture

Abstract

BACKGROUND A reconstruction of anatomical features of normal bone is important in the light of not only the frequency with which surgery is performed for distal radial fractures but also for prosthesis designs of radial head. The fractures of distal end of the radius are significantly related to age and stress related changes. Colles' fracture is common in postmenopausal women usually accompanied by damage to ulnar collateral ligament or the ulnar styloid process. The morphometry of distal end radius has an important role in the surgical reduction of unstable fractures. The quality of reduction is assessed mainly by degree of radiological restoration of radial angle and palmar tilt. Distal radius morphometry is an important parameter in the evaluation and treatment of distal end fractures in which anatomical alignment must be corrected. The primary goal of the study is to reduce surgical complications of Distal Radial Fracture by proper anatomical alignment. METHODS The present study has been undertaken on a series of 100 adult radii (R: L=50:50) obtained from the Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Amritsar and different parameters were studied. RESULTS The mean length in bones was seen to be 239 ± 16 mm on right and 238 ± 15.1 mm on left side. Length of the styloid process was 12.2±1.6 on right side and 12.5 ± 1.8 on left side. Depth of the ulnar notch was 1.82± 3.9 on right side and 1.71± 5.2 on left side. The sagittal diameter was 16-7 ± 1.9 mm on right side and 16.2 ± 2.1 mm on left side and length of ulnar notch was 6.6 ± 1.3 mm on right side and 6.8 ± 1.2 mm on left side. The distance of dorsal tubercle from tip of styloid process was 19.4 ± 2.7 mm on right side and 19.8 ± 2.2 mm on left side and the mean value of distance of dorsal tubercle from posterior border of ulnar notch on right side was 15.9 ± 1.7 mm and 16.4 ± 1.7 mm on left side. SADE was found to be 21.1±3.4 on right side and 21.2 ± 3.3 on left side while FADE was 24.1±3.4 on right and 23.3 ± 3.1 on left side. CONCLUSIONS It has been observed that morphometric parameters of distal radius are important to reduce surgical complications of distal radius fractures by proper anatomical alignment. A thorough understanding of angulation of distal end radius plays an important role to render appropriate treatment of distal radius fractures.