Pre Basic Course
Plates - form and function
Dr Sudarshan Bhandary
Plate : Form and Function
•To understand how changes in the design of
plates has evolved to meet the needs of the
patient
•To understand how you can use a plate in
several different ways to achieve different
types of fixation
Plate : Form and Function
•Absolute stability challenged by biological
fixation
•Osteosynthesis with plates has a firm place in #
treatment
•Articular #s require stable fixation
•Compromise of cortical blood supply a major
drawback of conventional plating
DCP - 3.5 and 4.5
•First introduced in 1969 by Danis
•Revolutionary concept of compression plating
•Featured a new hole designed for axial compression
•Broad 4.5 for Femur & Narrow 4.5 for Humerus &
Tibia
•DCP 3.5 for Forearm, Fibula, Pelvis & Clavicle
•The screw hole in DCP is like a portion of an inclined
& angled cylinder
•When the screw is tightened it results in a movement
of bone fragment in relation to the plate
•Screw holes allow 1mm
compression
•Additional compression with
1 more eccentric screw before
locking first screw
•Oval shape allows 25*
inclination in longitudinal &
7* in transverse plane
Technique of application
3 drill guides
a)Concentric (Neutral) - Green collar - 0.1 mm offset
b)Eccentric (Load) - Gold collar - 1 mm offset
c)Universal for buttress mode
Problems with DCP
•Unstable fixation leads to fatigue & failure
•Strict adherence to principles of compression
•Compromised blood supply due to intimate
contact with underlying cortex
•“Refractures” after plate removal
LC-DCP
•Represents a design change
•Overcome problems with DCP
•Plate footprint reduced
•Minimized kinking at screw holes
•Allows more inclination of screw in
longitudinal plane
Technique of application
•New spring loaded drill guide
•Without pressure - Eccentric hole
•With pressure - Neutral
Reconstruction plates
•Deep notches between holes
•Accurate contouring in any
plane
•Pelvis
•Acetabulum
•Distal humerus
•Clavicle
•Olecranon
New Systems
•Abolish ill effects of plate to bone contact
•Concept of “Internal Fixator”
•PC - FIX = First implant designed
•Self tapping, unicortical, one length screws
•Locking head
LCP – Locking Compression Plate
L C P
•Latest in the evolution
•“ Internal fixator ”
•Combination of locking
screw with conventional
screw
•Extraperiosteal
location of plate
LCP
•Fixed angle stability
•Unicortical fixation
option
•Load & neutral position
of screws
•Conical screw head
•Large diameter
LISS-Less Invasive Stabilization System
LISS
Plate: Function
Principles of rigid internal fixation with plates
•Neutralization Plate
•Compression plate
•Buttress Plate
•Bridge Plate
•Tension Band Plate
Neutralisation Plate
•Used with lag screws , plate is
protective
•Neutralises the weight bearing forces
to protect the lag screws from axial
loading
•Lag screw generates forces of 3000 N
Compression plating
•Compression through plate
- DC / LC-DC
•Compression with tension
devise
Compression with external devise
Contouring Plates
•To fit anatomy of bone
•Bending pliers
•Weakens plate
Buttress Plate
•Used when the fracture will only displace in one
direction.
•Only useful in metaphyseal fractures
•Applied so as to resist one deforming force
AO Organisation
☻Philosophies and techniques of treatment will
change with time
☻ The philosophy that we exist to improve the
care given to our patients will last forever