Biomechanical comparison of bicortical versus unicortical screw placement of proximal tibia locking plates: a cadaveric model.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of bicortical with unicortical screws in a proximal tibial fracture cadaveric model.


METHODS
Biomechanics laboratory at a Level 1 trauma center.


METHODS
Eight pairs (4 male and 4 female) of elderly (average age, 79 years; range, 63 to 104 years) cadaveric tibiae.


METHODS
Osteotomies were performed in the proximal tibia to reproduce a 41-C2 bicondylar fracture pattern. The 4.5-mm proximal tibial periarticular locking plates (Smith-Nephew, Memphis, TN) were applied to the tibiae with 4 proximal bicortical or unicortical locking screws and 3 screws distal to the fracture site. The fixed tibiae were tested by using a materials testing machine (Instron, Canton, MA) with the axial load on the medial condyle.


METHODS
The bicortical and unicortical constructs were compared for stiffness, yield load and displacement, and maximum load and displacement to failure.


RESULTS
: Bicortical screw placement significantly outperformed unicortical screw placement in stiffness (53.1 +/- 6.7 N/mm versus 35.6 +/- 7.2 N/mm, P < 0.002) and maximum load (476.5 +/- 83.8 N versus 258.9 +/- 62.1 N, P < 0.001) but the yield properties and the ultimate displacement were not significantly different.


CONCLUSIONS
Bicortical screw placement may provide a biomechanically superior construct than unicortical screw placement for the stabilization of unstable proximal tibia fractures.
Dougherty
Paul J
PJ
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA. pauldoug@med.umich.edu
Kim
Do-Gyoon
DG
Meisterling
Steve
S
Wybo
Christopher
C
Yeni
Yener
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002102:Cadaver; D004548:Elasticity; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016474:Weight-Bearing