Adolescent Volar Barton Fracture with Open Physis treated with Volar Plating using Buttressing Principle

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to assess the outcome of Salter- Harris type III distal radius fracture fixed using the principle of buttressing and avoiding screw insertion through the physis. MATERIALS AND METHOD Eight school going children in the age group of 11-16 years with volar Barton fractures were treated with a volar plate using the buttress principle without inserting screws in the distal fragment. Patients were evaluated over a period of 18 months. Clinical evaluation was done using the Green O'Brien criteria and radiological evaluation using the Sarmiento criteria. RESULTS The average union time was two months. All the patients had good to excellent functional outcome with full extension and flexion. CONCLUSION Buttress plating of volar Barton fractures in the adolescent age group is an excellent technique to achieve satisfactory outcome without violation of the physis.