The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical & radiological outcome between LCP and conventional T-plate fixation in the treatment of distal radial fracture.

From January 2000 to October 2006, 26 patients were treated by LCP fixation and 20 patients were treated by conventional T-plate fixation for distal radial fracture. We used the X-ray to calculate the radial inclination, radial length and volar tilting, then compared the loss of correction after the operation between both groups. We also evaluated the clinical functional outcome by Mayo wrist score.

The average follow-up since operation was ten months in both LCP and conventional T-plate fixation group. According to Frykmann classification, there were 1 case of type 1 (4%), 2 of type 2 (8%), 5 of type 3 (19%), 14 of type 4 (54%), 1 of type 5 (4%), 2 of type 7 (8%), 1 of type 8 (4%), and to AO classification, 4 of type A (15%), 22 of type C (85%) in LCP group. In conventional T-plate group, according to Frykmann classification, there were 12 cases of type 3 (60%), 4 of type 4 (20%), 3 of type 7 (15%), 1 of type 8 (5%), and to AO classification, 6 of type B (30%), 14 of type C (70%). In LCP group, the loss of correction between immediate post-operation and last follow-up was about 1.03° in radial inclination, -1.09 mm in radial length, -2.08° in volar tilting at each, and in conventional T-plate group, 2.4° in radial inclination, -0.82 mm in radial length, -2.11° in volar tilting at each. There was no statistical significance (p>0.05) in two groups. In the clinical functional outcome (according to Mayo wrist score), 92% of patient showed above good result in LCP group and 85% of patient showed above good result in conventional T-plate group. There was no infection, delayed union.

There was no clinical & radiological difference between LCP and conventional T-plate fixation group in the radial inclination, radial length and volar tilting.