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. 2024 Jun 7:53:102439.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcot.2024.102439. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Use of locking fibular plates versus non-locking dual plate fixation: A biomechanical study

Scott Epperly  1 , Allen Nedley  2 , Jun Ho Chung  2 , Evelyn Rodrigues  2 , Joseph Johnson  3
Affiliations

Use of locking fibular plates versus non-locking dual plate fixation: A biomechanical study

Scott Epperly et al. J Clin Orthop Trauma. .

Abstract

Introduction: Distal fibula osteoporotic comminuted fractures are challenging to treat and are often treated with periarticular locking plates. This study examined the biomechanical difference between locked plating and dual non-locked one-third tubular plating.

Methods: Using an osteoporotic Sawbones fibula model, simulated fracture were fixated with one-third tubular dual plating and locked periarticular plating. The samples were then torqued to failure and peak torque, stiffness, and displacement were recorded.

Results: The peak torque of the dual plating group was found to be statistically higher than the periarticular locked plating group (0.841 Nm and 0.740 Nm respectively; p = 0.024). However overall stiffness calculated at each 10° increment of displacement was noted to have no significant difference between the two constructs.

Conclusion: Dual non-locked plating of distal fibula osteoporotic comminuted fractures is biomechanically equivalent to locked periarticular plating.

Keywords: Ankle fractures; Biomechanics; Distal fibula; Double plate; Dual plate; Lateral locking plate distal fibula; One-third tubular plate; Osteoporotic; Sawbone.

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Conflict of interest statement

There were no conflicts of interest by any authors involved in the study.The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distal fibula dual plate non-locking construct.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distal fibula single locking plate construct.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Instron E10000 testing set up.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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