Using a point reduction clamp with a rubber stopper from a sterile bottle for reduction of a distal radius fracture

INTRODUCTION: There are many choices of surgical treatment for a distal radius fracture. The goal of treatment in these injuries is stable anatomical reduction of the articular surface. In a coronal split fracture, the dorsal fragment tends to dorsal displacement during drilling or when applying the distal locking screws of the plate. CASE PRESENTATION: We present an illustrative case from a larger series of a 65-year-old Thai woman with an intraarticular distal radius fracture with a dorsal fragment from a coronal-split configuration reduced and stabilized with a volar locking plate utilizing a large point reduction clamp held in place with a rubber stopper from a sterile glass bottle to counter the displacement effect of the drilling. DISCUSSION: Using a large point reduction clamp with a rubber stopper from a sterile glass bottle enables this type of difficult fracture to be both reduced and stabilized with the locking screw easily inserted to stabilize the dorsal fragment without any further displacement. The rubber stopper acts to distribute the compressive force from the large point reduction clamp over a larger area allowing a more stable fracture stabilization, while at the same time reducing skin and soft tissue trauma at the dorsal aspect of the wrist. CONCLUSION: This workaround allows improved stability in reduction and stabilization of a coronal split intraarticular distal radius fracture. The advantage of this workaround is that it uses small things readily available in every operating room setting, and it does not require any special experience or skills.