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Locking buttons increase fatigue life of locking plates in a segmental bone defect model
Marc Tompkins1, David J Paller, Douglas C Moore
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|October 30, 2012
Summary
Locking buttons significantly increased plate fatigue life in bone defect models, unlike standard locking screws. This finding is crucial for improving implant durability in cases of delayed union.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Biomaterials science
- Mechanical engineering
Background:
- Plate fixation durability is critical for managing delayed union in bone fractures.
- While locking plates offer construct strength, their impact on fatigue life remains uncertain.
- The biomechanical effects of screw placement near nonunions require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of locking screws, compression screws, and locking buttons on the fatigue life of orthopedic plates.
- To determine if different fixation methods influence the durability of plates in a bone defect model.
Main Methods:
- Fatigue life testing of eight-hole locking plates in a segmental defect model.
- Four constructs were compared: all locking screws (Locked), all compression screws (Unlocked), compression screws with central locking buttons (Button), and compression screws with open central holes (Open).
Main Results:
- The Button group exhibited the longest fatigue life, reaching 1.3 million cycles.
- No significant difference in fatigue life was observed between the Locked and Unlocked groups.
- All constructs failed due to plate fracture at screw holes adjacent to the defect.
Conclusions:
- Locking screws alone did not enhance the fatigue life of the plates.
- The use of locking buttons in central holes significantly increased the fatigue life of the plate.
- Locking buttons adjacent to defects may improve implant durability, particularly relevant for delayed union cases.
