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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779496
Original Research

Effect of an Orthogonal Locking Plate and Primary Plate Working Length on Construct Stiffness and Plate Strain in an In vitro Fracture-Gap Model

Brett Walter de Bruyn
1   School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
,
Mark Glyde
1   School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
,
Robert Day
2   Department of Medical Engineering and Physics, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia
,
Giselle Hosgood
1   School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
› Author Affiliations Funding This research was partially funded by a research grant from the Australian Companion Animal Health Foundation (ACAHF021). Implants used in this study were partially funded by a materials grant from Zebravet Australia.
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Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to compare stiffness and strain of an in vitro fracture-gap model secured with a primary 3.5-mm locking compression plate (LCP) at three primary plate working lengths without and with an orthogonal 2.7-mm LCP.

Study Design Primary plate screw configurations modeled short working length (SWL), medium working length (MWL), and long working length (LWL) constructs. Construct stiffness with and without an orthogonal plate during nondestructive four-point bending and torsion, and plate surface strain measured during bending, was analyzed.

Results Single plate construct stiffness was significantly, incrementally, lower in four-point bending and torsion as working length was extended. Addition of an orthogonal plate resulted in significantly higher bending stiffness for SWL, MWL, and LWL (p < 0.05) and torsional stiffness for MWL and LWL (p < 0.05). Single plate construct strain was significantly, incrementally, higher as working length was extended. Addition of an orthogonal plate significantly lowered strain for SWL, MWL, and LWL constructs (p < 0.01).

Conclusion Orthogonal plate application resulted in higher bending and torsional construct stiffness and lower strain over the primary plate in bending in this in vitro model. Working length had an inverse relationship with construct stiffness in bending and torsion and a direct relationship with strain. The inverse effect of working length on construct stiffness was completely mitigated by the application of an orthogonal plate in bending and modified in torsion.

Keywords

orthogonal plates - working length - construct stiffness - plate strain - locking plates

Note

An abstract of this study was presented at the Annual ECVS Congress, July 7, 2022, Porto, Portugal.


Authors' Contribution

All authors contributed to conception of the study, study design, acquisition of data, data analysis and interpretation, and manuscript preparation and review. All authors revised and approved the submitted manuscript.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 11 September 2023

Accepted: 08 January 2024

Article published online:
08 February 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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