Case: The patient was a 60-year-old woman with a comminuted, open distal radius and distal ulna metadiaphyseal fracture. After fixation of the distal radius, the distal ulna was unstable and crepitant with rotation and anteroposterior translation. Because of limited bone stock and poor soft tissue, we spanned the distal ulna using a wrist spanning plate. This was removed at 6 weeks postoperatively. She healed and was satisfied with her outcomes.
Conclusion: This case describes the original use of a wrist spanning plate for a complex distal ulna fracture. Ulnocarpal-spanning plate fixation provides an alternative to traditional methods of fixation.