Abstract

Objective: To assess the outcome of volar Barton fracture treated with T-plate and locking plate.
Methodology: From December 2011 to August 2014, prospective case series study was conducted at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dow University of Health Sciences/Civil Hospital, Karachi and included 45 patient of volar Barton fracture treated with buttress plate and locking plate. Colles fracture, dorsal barton and comminuted intraarticular fractures were excluded from the study.
Results: Out of 45 patients, 33(73%) were male and 12(27%) female, Age ranged from 20 to 50 years. 17(38%) had fall and 28(62%) road traffic accident. 7(16%) patients were treated with locking plates and 38(84%) with T- buttress plate. Functional outcome was assessed on the basis of modified clinical staging system of Green & O’Brien, which showed excellent result in 20(44%) patient, good in 16(36%), fair in 7(16%), and poor in 2(4%) patientss. Volar Barton fracture was associated with concomitant injuries, especially in trauma patients. 4(27%) had midshaft femur fracture, 2(13%) scaphoid fracture, 4(27%) metacarpals and 5(33%) ulnar styloid factures. With 9 months follow up, union was observed in all patients within 8 to 12 weeks.
Conclusion: volar Barton fractures are unstable injuries; chances of displacement after closed reduction are high. So we recommend open reduction and internal fixation with T- buttress plate or locking plate to get the excellent functional outcome.

Key words: Volar Barton, open reduction, T-buttress, locking plate.