Saving Tendons on Distal Radius Fractures: A Simple Surgical Pearl to Prevent FPL Tendon Conflict with Volar Locking Plates

Abstract

Injury to the flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tendon is one of the most frequent complications when fixing distal radius fractures with the volar locking plates. The author proposed a simple surgical technique providing a reliable soft tissue protection to prevent friction on the FPL with the volar locking plate, using a flap of the FCR sheath sutured to attachments of the volar capsule on the lunate buttress facet of the distal radius.

Keywords

distal radius fractures - volar locking plates - flexor pollicis longus - tendon rupture - complications

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