Are TomoFix Locking Plates Really Anatomical for Indian Population?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomedical engineering
• Radiology

Background:

• The TomoFix plate is commonly used for tibial fractures but may not fit Asian populations due to smaller bone structures.
• Proximal tibial morphology varies significantly across different ethnic groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine normal proximal tibial morphometric measurements in the Indian population.
• To compare the Medial Anterior Radius of Curvature (MAROC) of the proximal tibia with the Proximal Part Radius of Curvature (PPROC) of TomoFix plates.
• To assess the fit conformity between the tibial bone and the implants.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 824 knees (664 female, 160 male) using CT and MRI scans.
• Measurement of proximal tibial dimensions, including MAROC.
• Comparison of mean MAROC values with PPROC of Standard, Small (Asian Version), and Anatomical TomoFix plates.

Main Results:

• Mean MAROC in the Indian population was 21.88 ± 2.11 mm.
• Significant differences (p < 0.01) were found between the mean MAROC and the PPROC of all tested TomoFix plates.
• The radius of curvature of the plates did not match the anteromedial tibial plateau's curvature.

Conclusions:

• Standard, Small, and Anatomical TomoFix plates are generally too large for the Indian population.
• Implant designers should consider these findings to develop better-fitting plates for Indian patients.
• Improved implant fit can enhance surgical outcomes and reduce hardware-related complications in MOWHTO procedures.