The results in four patients who had displaced, comminuted intra-articular fractures of the distal end of the radius and who were treated by open reduction and small T-plate fixation were retrospectively reviewed. Small T-plates were applied on the volar side in three cases and the dorsal side in one.
Clinical results were good in one, fair in three. Of four radiographic parameters under investigation (that is, radial inclination angle, volar tilt, ulnar variance and step-off of the articular surface), radial inclination angle and ulnar variance were satisfactorily restored in all cases, but volar tilt varied from -14° to 15° Step-off was less than 2mm in all.
In the treatment with small T-plate fixation for such comminuted fractures, if necessary, Kirschner wire fixation and/or external fixation should be used together according to the degree of comminution.