We used five fresh-frozen cadavers with 10 upper limbs to evaluate by finite element analysis (FEA) the plate fixation of distal radius fractures. The distal radius of the cadavers was fractured using a comminution fracture model. Plate fixation was performed using Synthes VATCP. Compression tests were performed on these specimens and force displacement curves were obtained. FEA was performed using Mechanical Finder. The Keyak, Keller vertebra, Carter, and Matsuyama conversion equations without contact analysis, and the Matsuyama equations with contact analysis, were used for the boundary conditions. We found strong positive correlations with the Matsuyama conversion equations either with or without contact analysis. The validated FEA model will be used for preoperative simulation of actual fractures.
Keywords: Distal radius fracture; conversion equations; finite element analysis; plate fixation; validation study.