Semitubular blade plate fixation in proximal humeral fractures: a biomechanical study in a cadaveric model.
This study was undertaken to compare the fixation of the semitubular blade plate with that of the AO T plate. Cadaveric humeri (n=12 pairs) from an elderly population (41 to 89 years) had either a blade plate (n=12) or a T plate (n=12) fixed to them, subsequent to which a transverse osteotomy was performed. Mechanical testing in tension was performed in 1 series (n=5, blade plate; n=5, T plate) by applying a single maximal load to failure and in a second series (n=7, blade plate; n=7, T plate) by applying submaximal cyclic loading before failure was induced. Results showed that the fixation provided by the semitubular blade plate was significantly better (P < .05) than that of the T plate in those specimens subjected to submaximal cyclic loading before failure (series 2). This latter testing method contains some component of the clinical situation compared with monotonic distraction to failure. Based on these results plus favorable clinical results reported in the literature, the semitubular blade plate is possibly a better alternative to the T plate in the management of proximal humeral fractures that require open reduction and internal fixation.
Instrum
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Division of Orthopaedics and the Faculty of Engineering, The University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Fennell
C
C
Shrive
N
N
Damson
E
E
Sonnabend
D
D
Hollinshead
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D002102:Cadaver; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength