1. Extraarticular fracture with intact or fragmentary wedge
Extraarticular fracture with intact or fragmentary wedge
This fracture type is classified by the AO/OTA as 13A3.1 (intact wedge) or 13A3.2 (fragmentary wedge).
In osteoporotic bone, the distal articular fragment may be very short, and metaphyseal comminution of varying degree may be present in either the ulnar or radial column.
The most difficult task is to stabilize a very short articular fragment when the bone quality is poor.
Extraarticular fracture with intact or fragmentary wedge
Images taken from Orozco R, et al. (1998) Atlas of Internal Fixation. Used with kind permission.
2. Extraarticular multifragmentary fracture
Extraarticular multifragmentary fracture
This fracture type is classified by the AO/OTA as 13A3.3.
In these fractures, each column has a wedge fragment, and may be multifragmentary.
Extraarticular multifragmentary fracture