PLACING A THREADED PLUG IN THE HOLE OF A LOCKING PLATE AT THE FRACTURE LEVEL CAN INCREASE THE RESISTANCE OF THE PLATE:A BIOMECHANICAL STUDY

gökhan ragıp ulusoy, Ali Bilge, Yavuz Akalın, Metin Akıncı, Şahin Ermutlu

Abstract


Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate whether placing a threaded plug in the hole of a locking plate at the fracture level is beneficial for increasing the resistance of the plate.

Methods: This experimental study analyzed load and compression forces in sheep tibia bone models. The following groups were assessed: Group 1 (n = 4), control bone samples; Group 2 (n = 4), samples of screw plate fixation without threaded plug in the hole at the fracture level; and Group 3 (= 4), samples of screw plate fixation with a threaded plug in the hole at the fracture level. Elastic force, bending moment, elastic compression, and rigidity were evaluated using a three-point bending test.

Results: Group 1 showed the greatest elastic force and the least amount of compression. The rigidity and elastic force were better in Group 3 than in Group 2. The mean elastic force in Group 3 was 22.4% of that in Group 1, whereas the mean elastic force in Group 2 was 19% of that in Group 1. Rigidity in Group 3 was 24.7% of that in Group 1, whereas rigidity in Group 2 was 18.3% of that in Group 1. Improved results were obtained in Group 3 when compared with Group 2.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that placing a threaded plug in the hole of the plate at the fracture level provides additional rigidity and stability by improving resistance to loading forces, but the differences were not statistically significant.



Keywords


threaded plug; locking plate; rigidity

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24125/sanamed.v13i3.256

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