Experimental study and clinical observation of minimum-contact plate in long bone fracture.
OBJECTIVE
To study the mechanical properties and the clinical results of minimum-contact plate in the treatment of fractures.


METHODS
Four-point bending and torsion tests were conducted to compare the new minimum contact plate (MCP) with dynamic compression plate (DCP) and limited contact dynamic compression plate (LC-DCP). The fracture healing time and growth of bony callus were observed in 29 cases of long bone fracture fixed with MCP to evaluate the advantages of this kind of plate.


RESULTS
The 29 patients who underwent MCP were followed up from 6 to 14 months. The average healing time for femoral, tibial and humeral fractures was 12, 13 and 10 weeks, respectively. All fractures were healed. No displacement of fracture, screw pullout, deformation or break of the plate were found.


CONCLUSIONS
The bending stiffness of MCP is significantly greater than that of DCP and LC-DCP (P<0.05). MCP can protect the periosteal blood supply against avascular osseous necrosis and accelerate bone healing. It is a kind of reliable and effective plate in treatment of fractures.
Yang
Xin-jian
XJ
Department of Trauma Surgery, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518035, China. yangxinjiang62@hotmail.com
Fei
Jun
J
Wang
Zheng-guo
ZG
Yu
Hong-jun
HJ
Sun
Jun
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014102:Torsion Abnormality; D016896:Treatment Outcome