Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the 16 patients, with distal radius fracture involving sigmoid notch
fracture, who were treated by limited dorsal approach retrospectively.
Methods: Between June 2003 and December 2013, 743 patients with distal radius fracture underwent operative treatment.
Among them, 16 patients received conventional treatment, with additional limited dorsal approach. The fracture
patterns involved sigmoid notch with dorsal lunate fossa depression, as well as distally displaced dorsal rim fragment. Radiologic
results were evaluated based on dorsal tilt, radial inclination, and radial shortening. Clinical results were evaluated
based on grip strength, motion range of the wrist joint, arm disabilities, shoulder & hand (DASH) score, and visual
analogue scale (VAS) score.
Results: The average radial inclination was 21°, with 5.6° of volar tilt and 0.1 mm of radial shortening. The average
range of motion were 42.6° of flexion, 56.5° of extension, 23.4° of radial tilt, and 24.8° of ulnar tilt. The average grip
strength was 81.3% of the opposite side. The average VAS and DASH scores were 1.1 and 21.3, respectively.
Conclusion: In the case of sigmoid notch fracture involving dorsal lunate fossa depression fractures and distally displaced
dorsal rim fractures, we were able to reduce and fix the fragment conveniently using limited dorsal approach.