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Evidence for Success with Locking Plates for Fragility Fractures

  • Review Article
  • Published:
HSS Journal ®

Abstract

Fixation of fragility fractures with plates and screws often results in loss of fixation and need for revision surgery. Locking plates and screw were introduced to improve fixation of fragility fractures and have been in use for a decade. This review was conducted to compile evidence that locking plates and screws improve fixation of fragility fractures. A search of PubMed was performed to identify biomechanical studies as well as clinical series of fragility fractures treated with locking plates. Biomechanics papers had to use models of osteoporotic bone and had to directly compare locking plates with traditional plates. Clinical studies included case series in which locking plates were applied to elderly patients with fractures of the proximal humerus and periprosthetic distal femur fractures. Most studies are retrospective case series. Locking plates lead to greater stability and higher loads to failure than traditional plates. When applied to proximal humerus fractures, uncomplicated healing occurs in 85% of patients. Constant and Dash scores approach normal values. For distal femoral periprosthetic fractures, union rates of 75% are reported with a malunion rate of 10%. Early evidence suggests that locking plates improve results of treatment of proximal humerus fractures and distal femoral periprosthetic fractures in the elderly. Loss of fixation is associated with failure to achieve stability at the fracture site. Principles of fracture fixation in osteoporotic bone defined prior to the introduction of locking plates should still be applied.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital For Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Charles N. Cornell M.D. & Omri Ayalon M.D.

  2. Weill Cornell College of Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Charles N. Cornell M.D.

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  1. Charles N. Cornell M.D.
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  2. Omri Ayalon M.D.
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Correspondence to Charles N. Cornell M.D..

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Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Each author certifies that his or her institution waived approval for the reporting of study and that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research.

Level of Evidence: Theraputic Study Level IV

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Cornell, C.N., Ayalon, O. Evidence for Success with Locking Plates for Fragility Fractures. HSS Jrnl 7, 164–169 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-010-9194-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-010-9194-8

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