Forearm Fracture Solutions

Product Overview

The precontoured radius plates of the Acumed Anatomic Midshaft Forearm Plating System offer marked hardware improvements over traditional straight plates. The system can be used to treat fractures, fusions, and osteotomies of the radius and ulna. It can also be used in conjunction with the Acumed Forearm Rod System for a less invasive approach to radius, ulna, and both-bone forearm fractures in the diaphyseal region. The Anatomic Midshaft Forearm Plating System includes Midshaft Ulna Plates, Volar Midshaft Radius Plates, and Dorsolateral Midshaft Radius Plates.

The Acumed Forearm Rod System offers surgeons an alternative option for the treatment of fractures and osteotomies of the radius and ulna over traditional plating. Each fluted rod is designed to be inserted through a small incision with minimal canal reaming. A targeted interlocking screw, combined with a paddle blade tip design, locks and rotationally secures the bone segments to assist in fracture union.

Key Publications

Radius Morphology and Its Effects on Rotation With Contoured and Noncontoured Plating of the Proximal Radius

Publication Excerpt

“This study suggests that the normal sagittal bow of the radius is important to maintain when one is using a contoured plate for fracture fixation in this area. This improves forearm rotation. Furthermore, ulna plate impingement is not a source of reduced rotation.”

Journal Abstract

Background
The radius has a sagittal bow and a coronal bow. Fractures are often treated with volar anterior plating. However, the sagittal bow is often overlooked when plating. This study looks at radial morphology and the effect of plating the proximal radius with straight plates and then contoured plates bowed in the sagittal plane. We report our findings and their effect on forearm rotation.

Materials and methods
Morphology was investigated in 14 radii. Attention was paid to the proximal shaft of the radius and its sagittal bow; from this, 6-, 7-, and 8-hole plates were contoured to fit this bow. A simple transverse fracture was then made at the apex of this bow in 23 cadaver arms. Supination and pronation were compared when plating with a straight plate and a contoured plate. Ten cadavers underwent ulna plating at the same level. The effect on rotation of fractures plated in the distal-third shaft was also measured.

Results
A significant reduction in rotation was found when a proximal radius fracture was plated with a straight plate compared with a contoured plate: 10.8°, 12.8°, and 21.7° for 6-, 7-, and 8-hole plates, respectively (P < .05). Forearm rotation was decreased further when a longer plate was used. Ulna or distal shaft plating did not reduce rotation.

Conclusion
This study has shown a significant sagittal bow of the proximal shaft of the radius. Plating this with contoured plates in the sagittal plane improves rotation when compared with straight plates. Additional ulna plating is not a source of reduced forearm rotation.

Reference

Rupasinghe S, Poon P. Radius morphology and its effects on rotation with contoured and noncontoured plating of the proximal radius. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012;21: 568-573 doi:10.1016/j.jse.2011.03.015

Download Key Publications PDF

Case Series: Forearm Fractures

In this series of six case studies, Dr. Jared Salinsky uses the Acumed Anatomic Midshaft Forearm Plate System to treat patients with various fractures of the radius and/or ulna including a nonunion of midshaft, a displaced left ulnar fracture, a diaphyseal fracture of the ulna, a grade-2 open fracture, and acute radius and ulna fractures.

View Case Study Series

Anatomic Midshaft Forearm Plating System Radius Plate, Volar Approach, with Dr. Richard

Radial Shaft Fracture Fixation Using Dorsolateral Midshaft Radius Plate, with Dr. Richard

Ulna Fracture Treatment Using the Ulna Rod, with Dr. Richard

Product Training Series: Forearm Fracture System Key Features with Victoria Lauren

View all Forearm Fracture Solutions Videos

Plate Features

The First Precontoured Radius Plates
Due to the sagittal bow of the radius, plating with contoured plates in the sagittal plane improves rotation when compared with straight plates.² For every 5 degrees of radial curvature that is not restored, the patient may lose 15 degrees of rotational motion.²
Two Contoured Radius Plate Options
Acumed offers two contoured radius plate options, including volar and dorsolateral approach options and an ulna plate.
Precontoured Plate Advantages
Precontoured plates are intended to minimize plate bending to help save operating time. This allows surgeons to focus on restoring anatomy and re-establishing forearm pronation-supination.¹
Plate Design Features
Tapered plate ends may reduce stress on bone and risk of secondary or subsequent fracture adjacent to the plate. A limited-contact under-surface minimizes contact with the periosteum to avoid disruption of blood supply.
Creative Instrumentation
Innovative instrumentation includes a swiveling plate clamp, an angled drill guide, and a soft tissue spreader to aid in plate implantation.

Rod Features

Minimally Invasive
The rod is designed to be inserted through a small incision with minimal canal reaming.
Rotational Stability
The rod’s paddle-blade tip and interlocking screws are designed to lock and rotationally secure bone segments to assist in fracture union.
Straightforward Technique
The straightforward surgical technique is designed to streamline the surgical experience.
Precontoured Rods
Rods are precontoured to match the ulnar and radial canal’s geometry.

Anatomic Midshaft Forearm Plates

Volar Midshaft Radius Plates

Anatomically precontoured plates are intended to help restore forearm geometry and assist in reestablishing pronation and supination.

Dorsolateral Midshaft Radius Plates

Precontoured plates are designed to help restore radial bow and may reduce the need for intraoperative bending, thereby reducing the risk of implant weakening that may come with bending of traditional implants.

Midshaft Ulna Plates

Acumed Anatomic Midshaft Forearm Plates offer a low-profile design with tapered ends designed to reduce stress shielding and feature a limited contact undersurface designed to reduce compression of the periosteum.

Forearm Rod System

Ulna Rod

The Acumed Ulna Rod is designed to address simple, transverse, and short oblique fractures as well as osteotomies of the ulna. Each fluted rod is designed to be inserted through a small incision with minimal canal reaming. A targeted interlocking screw, combined with a paddle blade tip design, locks and rotationally secures the bone segments to assist in fracture union.

Radius Rod

The Acumed Radius Rod is used to treat fractures and osteotomies of the radius. Contoured to ease insertion and closely match the geometry of the radial canal, the rod's targeted interlocking screws and paddle-blade tip are designed to lock and rotationally secure bone segments to stabilize the fracture. This minimally invasive technique may reduce scarring and surgery time over traditional open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).

Images

Citations

Rupasinghe S, Poon P. Radius morphology and its effects on rotation with contoured and noncontoured plating of the proximal radius. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012;21: 568-573 doi:10.1016/j.jse.2011.03.015
Stannard J, Schmidt A, Kregor, P. Surgical treatment of orthopaedic trauma. <em>Injury</em>. 2007;39(4):502.

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Forearm Fracture Solutions

Minimally Invasive Technique

Creative Instrumentation

Precontoured Plates

Low-profile Design

Limited Contact

Approach-specific Radius Plates

Color-coding

User-friendly Instrumentation

Product Overview

Related Documents

Key Publications

Publication Excerpt

Journal Abstract

Reference

Case Series: Forearm Fractures

Plate Features

The First Precontoured Radius Plates

Two Contoured Radius Plate Options

Precontoured Plate Advantages

Plate Design Features

Creative Instrumentation

Rod Features

Minimally Invasive

Rotational Stability

Straightforward Technique

Precontoured Rods