128 / 225
128
· DOS Abstracts
The Pronator Quadratus muscle after volar plating: Ul-
trasound evaluation of anatomical changes correlated
to patient reported clinical outcome
Jesper Sonntag, Jesper Hern, Linn Woythal, Ulrik Branner, Kai H. W. Lange, Stig
Brorson
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nordsjællands Hospital; Department of
Radiology, Nordsjællands Hospital; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nord-
sjællands Hospital; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nordsjællands Hospital;
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Nordsjællands Hospital; Depart-
ment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Herlev Hospital
Background:
After volar plating of distal radius fractures (DRF) repair of the
Pronator Quadratus (PQ) muscle with sutures has been reported durable. It is
not clear how the muscle reacts if not repaired. Furthermore, it is uncertain if a
retracted muscle correlates to worse functional outcome or complications.
Purpose / Aim of Study:
To investigate with ultrasound the anatomy of the
PQ muscle after volar plating with PQ repair or non-repair and to correlate the
ultrasound findings to patient reported outcome.
Materials and Methods:
The participants were recruited from a clinical trial
where they were randomly allocated to repair or non-repair of the PQ muscle
after volar plating of DRF. The participants and radiologist were blinded to group
allocation. Ultrasounds of both fractured and contralateral wrists were per-
formed three months after surgery. Ultrasound measurements included differ-
ence in length of PQ muscles between the injured and un-injured side, retraction
of PQ muscles and tendon complications. The length and retraction measure-
ments were correlated to complications and Patient Related Wrist Evaluation
(PRWE).
Findings / Results:
The mean difference in length between the injured and the
un-injured side in the non- repair group was 4.39mm and in the repair group
2.68mm with a mean difference between the two groups of 1.71mm (CI-95%
= [0.09; 3.33]; p = 0.04). However, there were no clinically or statistically dif-
ferences in complications or PRWE between the two groups. Retraction of the
PQ muscle was only found in the non-repair group. We found no difference in
complications or PRWE between the retracted and non- retracted groups.
Conclusions:
PQ length was significantly shorter and retraction significantly
larger without repair of the PQ muscle. However, neither length nor retraction
correlated significantly with complications or PRWE.
No conflicts of interest reported
80.