The technique of locked plating has been a major advance in Orthopaedic fracture surgery
and has had an equal impact on the management of upper extremity fractures. The recognition
of the role of vascularity and soft tissues in fracture healing was central to the
research and development of newer plate designs that left minimal footprints on the
surface of the bone. Subsequently, innovative locking technology has improved our
ability to manage cases with extensive communition, inadequate bone stock, and peri-articular
fractures. This paper will review the role of locking technology in the management
of fractures of the upper extremity.
Keywords
Locking technology - locking screws - locking plates - distal radius - proximal humerus