title: Locking plate technology and its role in osteoporotic fractures.
abstract: Osteoporosis is a public health issue that leads to increased morbidity and dependency in an increasing population. Fractures in osteoporotic bone have been a contraindication to internal fixation due to their past poor results. Various treatment methods and innovations have been attempted that have met with some success. This paper reviews one such innovation, locking-plate osteosynthesis, looking at its technology and success and its role in osteoporotic patients. As this is an evolving technology, surgeon's experience with these plates and screws are in advance of clinical studies and therefore the surgeons should proceed with caution when choosing locking plate technology in the treatment of osteoporotic fractures.
authors.affiliation: Hartford Hospital, University of Conneticut School of Medicine, Hartford CT 06106, USA. bonetx@aol.com
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Miranda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome