[PROGRESS OF DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING OF LOCKING PLATE AND SCREW]

To summarize the research progress of difficulty in removing of locking plate and screw.

The domestic and foreign related literature about difficulty in removing of locking plate and screw was reviewed. The incidence, the reason, preventive measure, removing method, and its advantages and disadvantages were summarized and analyzed.

With the popularization of locking plate application, cases with difficulty in removing locking screw have significantly increased compared with non-locking plate, so it has become a new clinical problem. The main reasons are stripping, cross-threading, and cold-welding. In recent years, for the difficulty in removing of locking plate and screw, some special extraction tools and new extraction methods have developed, but each has its defects and indications.

Sufficient preoperative preparation, being familiar with its advantage and disadvantage as well as its indications are necessary. The specific situations of patient, including the reason, the screw, the plate, the incision, the bone quantity, and existing equipment, should be comprehensively considered to select appropriate methods.