Crossed screws versus dorsomedial locking plate with compression screw for first metatarsocuneiform arthrodesis: a cadaver study.
BACKGROUND
We hypothesized that a dorsomedial locking plate with adjunct screw compression would provide superior rigidity compared to crossed screws for first metatarsocuneiform (MTC) arthrodesis.


METHODS
In ten matched lower extremity pairs, specimens in each pair were randomly assigned to receive screw fixation or plate with screw fixation. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured. For the crossed-screw construct, two 4.0-mm cannulated screws were used. One screw was inserted dorsal to plantar beginning from the first metatarsal 10 to 15 mm distal to the joint, and the second was inserted from the cuneiform 8 to10 mm proximal to the joint, medial to the first screw, into the first metatarsal. For the plate construct, a 4.0-mm cannulated compression screw was inserted from the dorsal cortex of the first metatarsal to the plantar aspect of the medial cuneiform. A locking plate was inserted dorsomedially across the MTC joint. Specimens were loaded in four-point bend configuration (displacement rate, 5 mm/min) until failure of the fixation or 3-mm deformation. An extensometer was used to measure deformation.


RESULTS
There was no difference in load to failure or stiffness between the two groups. BMD was positively correlated with load to failure in the screw (r = 0.893, p = 0.001) and the plate (r = 0.858, p = 0.001) construct.


CONCLUSIONS
The plate construct with compression screw did not show different rigidity as compared with the screw construct with the numbers available.


CONCLUSIONS
Further investigation of a dorsomedial plate with adjunct screw compression may be warranted for first MTC arthrodesis.
Gruber
Florian
F
Baltimore, MD, USA.
Sinkov
Vladimir S
VS
Bae
Su-Young
SY
Parks
Brent G
BG
Schon
Lew C
LC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002102:Cadaver; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013639:Tarsal Bones / Q000601:surgery*