Implant Failure Rates and Cost Analysis of Contoured Locking Versus Conventional Plate Fixation of Distal Fibula...

The authors analyzed 330 consecutive Weber B distal fibula fractures that occurred during a 3-year period and were treated with either a contoured locking plate or a conventional one-third tubular plate to compare the cost and failure rates of the 2 constructs. The primary outcomes were failure of the distal fibular implant and loss of reduction. Secondary outcomes were surgical wound infection requiring surgical debridement and/or removal of the fibular implant, and removal of the fibular plate for persistent implant-related symptoms. No failure of the fibular plates or distal fibular fixation occurred in either group. A total of 5 patients required surgical revision of syndesmotic fixation within 4 weeks of the index surgery. Of these patients, 1 was in the contoured locking plate group and 4 were in the one-third tubular plate group (P=.610). The rate of deep infection requiring surgical debridement and/or implant removal was 6.2% in the contoured locking plate group and 1.4% in the one-third tubular plate group (P=.017). The rate of lateral implant removal for either infection or symptomatic implant was 9.3% in the contoured locking plate group and 2.3% in the one-third tubular plate group (P=.005). A typical contoured locking plate construct costs $800 more than a comparable one-third tubular plate construct. Based on a calculated estimate of 60,000 locking plates used annually in the United States, this difference translates to a potential avoided annual cost of $50 million nationally. This study demonstrates that it is possible to treat Weber B distal fibula fractures with one-third tubular plates at a substantially lower cost than that of contoured locking plates without increasing complications. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(6):e1024-e1029.].