• Bruno Di Maggio, Pasquale Sessa, Patrizia Mantelli, Pietro Maniscalco, Fabrizio Rivera, Giorgio Maria Calori, Luigi Bisogno, Gabriele Scaravilli, and Marco Caforio.
• UOC ortopedia e Traumatologia Presidio Ospedaliero Piedimonte Matese (CE).
• Injury. 2017 Oct 1; 48 Suppl 3: S34-S38.

IntroductionOpen reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with plate and screws represents the recommended treatment for unstable intra-articular distal radius fractures. Although significant progresses in surgical technique have been made, anatomical reconstruction of radio-carpal articular surface still represent a difficult task, especially in multifragmentary fractures. Available PEEK reinforced-carbon fiber composite radiolucent devices allow both an easier and more careful assessment of intra-operative reduction of the articular surface of distal radius and prompt correction of any residual step deformity.Materials And MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed clinical and radiological multicentre results of 71 consecutive AO B and C fracture pattern of distal radius treated using the same PEEK reinforced-carbon fiber composite radiolucent plate.ResultsThree patients lost at final follow up and 4 cases with incomplete radiological documentations were excluded from the study. 64 patients (38 females, 26 males) were available and formed the basis of this report. Fracture types included 9 patients with 23-B, 13 patients 23-B2,15 patients with 23-B3,10 patients with 23-C1, 7 patients with 23-C2 and 10 patients with 23-C3. Mean Modified Mayo wrist Score was on average 38.11 (SD 10.1; range 24-75, 95%CI 34.7-41.4), 67.22 (SD 9.6, range 50-90, 95%CI 64-70.4), 90.54 (SD 6.3, range 75-100, 95%CI 88.4-92.6) at one, two and twelve months of follow-up, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found between mean scores at different follow-up periods (p = 0.001). We noted 1 case of distal screw fixation aseptic loosening at 5 months post surgical intervention.ConclusionsPEEK reinforced-carbon fiber composite radiolucent plate represents a useful device for treatment of complex distal radius fractures in the adult population. It possesses unique biomechanical properties and allows for an easier anatomical reduction during surgical intervention.© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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