Does Removal Of Volar Locking Plate Affect Patient Functional Outcomes?

INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of volar locking plate (VLP) removal on functional scores.
METHODS: In this retrospective study, between January 2019 and January 2024, medical records of our institution were reviewed and patients who underwent VLP removal were included in the study. Demographic characteristics of the patients, follow-up time until VLP removal and reasons of VLP removal were evaluated from medical records. Preoperative and postoperative 3rd month Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores were evaluated. Soong classification was performed on lateral wrist radiographs.
RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (24 male, 14 female) patients were included in the study. The mean age of all patients was 51.23±15.6 years. The mean time from VLP fixation to implant removal was 17.42±12.42 months. Patients who underwent implant removal were evaluated according to the Soong classification. 18 of the patients (%47.36) were grade 0, 16 of the patients (%42.1) were grade 1 and 4 of the patients (%10.54) were grade 2. The most common removal reason was patient request (n=26, %68.42). Preoperative mean DASH score was 19.1 and postoperative 3rd month mean DASH score was 8.2. There was a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative 3rd month DASH scores. (p<0.001) When patients were asked whether they would choose to implant removed again if they were in the same situation, %94.7 of the patients stated that they would choose implant removal again.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: VLP removal provided significant improvement in the patients' functional outcomes. The most common reason for VLP removal was patient request.