When a fracture of the distal radius heals with slight deformity on xray, this might be referred to as a malunion, although there may be little if any functional impact. At the extreme, however, a fracture that heals with too much residual displacement may cause pain and result in loss of wrist motion.
A number of options exist for treatment, but occasionally the radius need to be rebroken and straightened out. This entails the use of a bone graft and a plate and screws, but the newest techniques allow the plate to be placed in a position that rarely requires removal, and allows the use of artificial bone graft instead of having to harvest it from the pelvic bone. The net result is less morbidity and better outcome.
Fixed angled plates allow correction of malunion using a volar approach, and, in most cases, will result in the restoration of functional motion and near complete, if not complete, pain relief.
