# A case report of a distal radius fracture treated with a dorsal spanning plate augmented with fragment specific fixation

## TL;DR

A 43-year-old man with a complex wrist fracture was successfully treated using a combination of a dorsal spanning plate and additional fragment-specific plates.

## Contribution

This case report introduces the novel use of fragment-specific fixation in combination with a dorsal spanning plate for complex wrist fractures.

## Key findings

- The patient showed good fracture healing with intact hardware at 2 months.
- At 4 months, the dorsal spanning plate was removed with no signs of failure.
- The patient experienced minimal functional disability and no complaints.

## Abstract

Dorsal spanning plates are frequently utilized to manage comminuted intra-articular distal radius fractures, but there is little literature on combining them with augmented fixation in complex cases. We present a 43-year-old man who fell 5 ft onto his outstretched right hand. On examination, there was gross swelling and tenderness of the right wrist with no neurovascular deficit. Radiographs confirmed a comminuted intra-articular displaced distal radius fracture. He was treated with a dorsal spanning plate fixation combined with radiostyloid and volar buttress plates. Follow-up at 2 months showcased intact hardware with good fracture healing. The dorsal spanning plate was removed 4 months after the procedure with radiographs demonstrating adequate alignment and healing without failure. The patient reported no complaints and minimal functional disability. We highlight a case of augmenting a dorsal spanning plate with fragment-specific plate fixation for a comminuted intra-articular displaced distal radius fracture.