title: Stiffness of the locking compression plate as an external fixator for treating distal tibial fractures: a biomechanics study.
abstract: Locking compress plate, as external fixator, is an attractive technique for distal tibial fracture treatment. But it still remains unclear whether the external LCP has sufficient stiffness. Thus, the present study aims to make a comprehensive evaluation of the stiffness of external locking compress plate when it is used as an external fixator in distal tibial fractures treatment.
  
  
  
  Composite tibia was used to simulate distal tibia fracture (Orthopedic Trauma Association type 43 A3 fracture). The fractures were stabilized with medial distal tibial locking compress plates (LCP group), medial distal tibial locking compress plates with 30-mm plate-bone distances (EF-tibia group), and medial distal femur locking compress plates with 30-mm plate-bone distances (EF-femur group). Stiffness of each configuration was measured under axial compression loading and in axial torsion loading directions. Compression stiffness and torsional rigidity were compared across different groups.
  
  
  
  Compared with LCP group, (1) EF-tibia group showed significantly lower (p < 0.001) compression stiffness and torsional rigidity; (2) EF-femur group showed significantly lower (p < 0.001) compression stiffness, but significantly higher (p < 0.001) torsional rigidity.
  
  
  
  The results indicated that locking compress plate as an external fixator was flexible, and the distal femur locking compress plate was preferred over the distal tibial locking compress plate to be an external fixator in distal tibia fracture treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chao Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chao Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China.
authors.forename: Lihui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chao Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China.
authors.forename: Xiaochuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chao Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China.
authors.forename: Likun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chao Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chao Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China.
authors.forename: Zicheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Chao Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China. canglei@263.net.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zang
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D019245:Compressive Strength; D004867:Equipment Design; D016267:External Fixators; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008422:Materials Testing; D018583:Pliability; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016474:Weight-Bearing
keywords: Biomechanics; External fixation; Fracture; Locking compression plate; Tibia