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Titanium versus Stainless Steel Plating Outcomes in 50 Consecutive Patients Requiring Distal Radius Fracture Repair
Shakir S, Neral MK, Naran S, Katzel EB, Wollstein R
University
2014-03-16
Presenter: Sameer Shakir
Affidavit:
I certify that the material proposed for presentation in this abstract has not been published in any scientific journal or previously presented at a major meeting. This entire work represents the original work of the medical student.
Director Name: Joseph E. Losee
Author Category: Medical Student
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: Hand
Hypothesis: There is limited data regarding postoperative complications and subsequent hardware removal specific to plate material for operative fixation of distal radius fracture. We test the hypothesis that there is no difference in postoperative complication rates requiring hardware removal between plate types.
Methods: 50 patients from January 2009 to May 2012 undergoing displaced DRF repair with Synthes 2.4mm titanium and stainless steel locking plates were identified. The two cohorts were analyzed for differences in complications leading to hardware removal.
Results: 3 titanium plates and 1 stainless steel plate were removed during the follow-up period. Mean follow-up time for plate removal was 18.4 ± 4.6 months. Complications leading to hardware removal included chronic regional pain syndrome with contracture, tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and decreased extensor tendon excursion. When follow-up time was taken into account, log-rank test for equality revealed no statistically significant difference in removal rates between the two groups (p>0.186). Fisher's exact test revealed no statistically significant difference in overall removal between the two groups (p>0.193).
Conclusions: Preliminary analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in overall removal, despite titanium plates requiring removal more often (13.6% versus 3.6%). These data further support existing literature that suggests the soft tissue inflammatory response is similar regardless of plating material. Mean follow-up for plate removal was 18.4 ± 4.6 months, suggesting that long-term follow-up beyond the 6-8 month period currently reported in the literature may be necessary to identify patients requiring hardware removal.
