Delayed rupture of flexor pollicis longus after volar plating for a distal radius fracture

• Published in: Clinics in orthopedic surgery Vol. 4; no. 4; pp. 325 - 328
• Main Authors: Cho, Chul-Hyun, Lee, Kyung-Jae, Song, Kwang-Soon, Bae, Ki-Cheor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Orthopaedic Association 01.12.2012; 대한정형외과학회
• Subjects: Bone Plates; Case Report; Female; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Humans; Middle Aged; Radius Fractures - complications; Radius Fractures - pathology; Radius Fractures - surgery; Rupture; Tendon Injuries - etiology; Tendon Injuries - surgery; Thumb - physiopathology; 정형외과학; Flexor pollicis longus; Delayed rupture; Volar plating; Distal radius fracture
• ISSN: 2005-291X; 2005-4408
• DOI: 10.4055/cios.2012.4.4.325

Although extensor tendon rupture often occurs after volar plating for a distal radius fracture, a flexor tendon rupture is extremely rare. Most reported instances of flexor tendon ruptures after volar plating have involved improper placement of the plate, increased prominence of the distal edge of the plate because of collapse of the fracture site, use of custom-made plates, current steroid use by the patient, or a history of tendon injury. We report a case of delayed rupture of the flexor pollicis longus tendon 40 months after volar plating with a 3.5-mm T-locking compression plate for which the distal edge was located at the transverse ridge level of the distal radius. If symptoms such as tendon irritation occur in this situation, surgeons should consider removing the plate as soon as possible after bony union is achieved.