Background: Unstable distal ulna fractures are challenging injury facing orthopedic surgeons, due to proximity of the injury to articular surfaces, and lack of a proper implant to treat these injuries, and most of these fractures can affect distal radioulnar joint function and diminish distal forearm stability. Purpose of the study: was to treat unstable distal ulna fractures via titanium 2 mm hooked distal ulnar locked plate and evaluate its results. Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated the results of fixation of distal ulna fractures via hooked distal ulnar locked plate on twenty patients, there were 14 males and 6 females patients with an average age of 34±6.2 years, according to hand dominance : 12 dominant side and 8 non-dominant side fractures , There were 4 patients with isolated distal ulna fractures ,three of them were type 1 and other was type 2. While fractures associated with distal end radius classified as 7 fractures Q1 ,5 fractures Q2 , 1 fracture Q3 and 3 fractures Q4, evaluation done according to Mayo modified wrist score . Results: Mean follow up period 8.5 months (range from: 6 to 12), almost all fractures united successfully with no additional procedures, except one fracture needs bone marrow injection to achieve union, Mean wrist range of motion was :extension 70.75º ±1.25 , flexion 72.75º ±1.98, for supination was 71.5º ±1.5 and for pronation was 73.1º ±1.2 , mean grip strength was 78.5% of healthy side and mean Mayo score (83.5), excellent in patient , good in three patients and satisfactory in two patients. Conclusion: The distal ulna hook plate is an anatomic plate contoured to fit to the distal ulna. The good outcomes achieved in this study suggest that use of the distal ulna hook plate could be an alternative treatment method for intra articular ulna neck or head fractures, as well as basal oblique ulnar styloid fractures |
