Clinical and Radiological Outcomes Following Plate Osteosynthesis of Adult Diaphyseal Radius and/or Ulna Fractures: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Aims: To describe six-month clinical, functional, and radiological outcomes following plate osteosynthesis for adult diaphyseal fractures of the radius and/or ulna. Study Design: Single-centre prospective cohort study. Setting and Period: Department of Orthopaedics, Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhuj, Gujarat, India. Recruitment took place from January to December 2025, and follow-up was completed in June 2026. Methods: Thirty adults underwent plate fixation for isolated radial (n = 14), isolated ulnar (n = 11), or both-bone (n = 5) diaphyseal fractures. Clinical and radiological assessments were performed postoperatively and at approximately one, three, and six months, with additional reviews when indicated. Outcomes were patient-level union status, time to documented union, forearm rotation, QuickDASH, recorded functional grade, and complications. Results: There were 18 men and 12 women (mean age 44.3 ± 12.7 years), including 11 patients with open fractures. All 30 patients were reported to have achieved clinical and radiological union by six months (100%; Wilson 95% confidence interval [CI] 88.6%–100.0%); mean time to recorded union was 17.5 ± 3.4 weeks. Mean pronation, supination, and QuickDASH scores were 75.1° ± 7.4°, 76.7° ± 7.1°, and 9.5 ± 7.0, respectively. Recorded functional grades were excellent in 13 (43.3%), good in 14 (46.7%), and acceptable in 3 (10.0%). Four patients (13.3%) had documented complications: three superficial infections and one episode of stiffness. Conclusion: In this small, heterogeneous cohort, plate fixation was associated with reported union of all treated forearm injuries by six months and generally favourable short-term functional results. The descriptive findings do not establish comparative treatment effectiveness.