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J Hand Microsurg 2016; 08(01): 027-033
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1581125
Original Article
Society of Indian Hand & Microsurgeons

Melone's Concept Revisited: 3D Quantification of Fragment Displacement

Teun Teunis
1   Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Niels H. Bosma
1   Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Bart Lubberts
1   Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Dirk P. Ter Meulen
1   Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
David Ring
2   Dell Medical School, The University of Austin at Texas, Texas, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

18 May 2015

09 March 2016

Publication Date:
27 April 2016 (online)

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Abstract

We applied quantitative 3D computed tomography to 50 complete articular AO type C fractures of the distal radius and tested the null hypothesis that fracture fragments can be divided according to Melone's concept (radial styloid and volar and dorsal lunate facet fragments) and that each fragment has similar (1) displacement and (2) articular surface area. Thirty-eight fractures fit the Melone distribution of fragments. Radial styloid fragments were most displaced, and volar lunate fragments were least displaced. Volar lunate fragments had the largest articular surface area. While these findings confirm Melone's concepts, the finding that volar lunate fragments are relatively large and dorsal lunate fragments relatively small suggests that alignment of the volar lunate fragment with the radial styloid may be the key element of treatment and the dorsal lunate fragment may not routinely benefit from specific reduction and fixation.

Keywords

computed tomography - distal radius - fractures - morphology - quantitative

Note

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.


Supplementary Material

 

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