Review Article

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

¹ Orthopaedic, Traumatology, Plastic & Hand Surgery Unit, University Hospital of Besançon, 25000 Besançon, France
² Intervention, Innovation, Imagery, Engineering in Health (EA 4268), Medical and Pharmacology Section, IFR 133, University of Franche-Comté, 25000 Besançon, France
³ Clinique Saint Vincent, 40 chemin des Tilleroyes, 25044 Besançon Cedex, France

^* Corresponding author: francois_loisel@yahoo.fr

Received: 28 January 2015
Accepted: 4 May 2015

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.