Risk Factors for Complications following Volar Locking Plate (VLP) Fixation of Unstable Distal Radius Fracture (DRF)
Table 1
Comparisons of between patients with and without complications by univariate analysis.
Variables
Number (%) of patients without complications ()
Number (%) of patients with complications ()
Age (years)
0.117
(i) 18-39
129 (35.3)
20 (34.5)
0.224
(ii) 40-59
160 (43.8)
31 (53.4)
(iii) ≥ 60
76 (20.8)
7 (12.1)
Sex (males)
210 (57.5)
45 (77.6)
0.004
Occupation (manual work)
262 (71.8)
47 (81.0)
0.140
Living place (rural)
222 (60.8)
44 (75.9)
0.028
Educational attainment (≥ 12 years)
92 (25.2)
11 (19.0)
0.304
BMI (kg/m2)
0.336
(i) ≥ 28
74 (20.3)
7 (12.1)
0.140
Hypertension
45 (12.3)
11 (19.0)
0.166
Diabetes mellitus
96 (26.3)
12 (20.7)
0.363
Heart disease
26 (7.1)
6 (10.3)
0.389
Cerebrovascular disease
16 (4.4)
4 (6.9)
0.402
COPD
18 (4.9)
4 (69)
0.531
Liver diseases
10 (2.7)
0 (0.0)
0.202
Renal insufficiency
4 (1.1)
0 (0.0)
0.423
Current smoking
77 (21.1)
12 (20.7)
0.944
Alcohol drinking
122 (33.4)
22 (37.9)
0.501
High-energy injury
85 (23.3)
22 (37.9)
0.017
Involvement of right hand
197 (54.0)
29 (50.0)
0.573
Involvement of dominant hand
209 (57.3)
31 (53.4)
0.586
Fracture type (based on AO classification system)
0.016
(i) A
128 (35.1)
12 (20.7)
(ii) B
83 (22.7)
10 (10)
(iii) C
154 (42.2)
36 (62.1)
Time from injury to operation (days)
0.168
(i) < 7
253 (69.6)
33 (56.9)
0.055
(ii) ≥ 7
111 (30.4)
25 (43.1)
ASA classification
0.009
(i) I
50 (13.7)
8 (13.8)
(ii) II
278 (76.2)
36 (62.1)
(iii) III-IV
37 (10.1)
14 (24.1)
Anesthesia mode
0.005
(i) Regional
298 (81.6)
38 (65.5)
(ii) General
67 (18.4)
20 (34.5)
Surgical duration (minutes)
0.004
(i) ≥ 180
75 (20.5)
23 (39.7)
<0.001
Surgeries performed by experienced surgeons
276 (75.6)
21 (36.2)
<0.001
High-volume surgery (≥ 7 procedures within 12 months preceding the index surgery)
232 (63.6)
31 (53.4)
0.140
Surgeries performed at weekend/holiday
47 (12.9)
14 (24.1)
0.023
Bone grafting
22 (6.0)
12 (20.7)
<0.001
Allogeneic blood
29 (7.9)
15 (25.9)
<0.001
Albumin level (g/L)
0.002
(i) < 35
52 (14.2)
17 (29.3)
0.004
Sodium concentration (mmol/L)
0.033
(i) < 135
37 (10.1)
8 (13.8)
0.402
Glucose
0.419
(i) > 6.1 mmol/L
17 (29.3)
0.696
WBC (109/L)
0.003
(i) > 10
103 (28.2)
24 (41.4)
0.042
Neutrophil count (109/L)
0.009
(i) > 6.3
176 (48.2)
31 (53.4)
0.459
Lymphocyte count (109/L)
0.189
(i) < 1.8
66 (18.1)
11 (19.0)
0.871
RBC (1012/L)
0.013
(i) < Lower limit
46 (12.6)
17 (29.3)
0.001
Hemoglobin (g/L)
0.002
(i) < Lower limit
53 (14.5)
18 (31.0)
0.002
Hematocrit (%)
0.003
(i) < Lower limit
87 (23.8)
26 (44.8)
0.001
Abbreviations: BMI: body mass index; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists; WBC: white blood cell; RBC: red blood cell. Notes: RBC, reference range: female, /L; males, ; reference range for hemoglobin: females, 110-150 g/L and males, 120-160 g/L; reference range for hematocrit: females, 35%-45%; males, 40%-50%.
