Locked plating in orthopaedic trauma: a clinical update

Superconstructs in the treatment of charcot foot deformity: plantar plating, locked plating, and axial screw fixation

Management of Charcot's deformity of the foot and ankle continues to challenge physicians. Medical co-morbidity, peripheral neuropathy, vascular disease, and immune impairment cause severe problems for these patients and, when combined with neuroarthropathy, can lead to amputation. Progressive bony deformity and bone resorption, which may accompany neuroarthropathy, only increase the challenge of surgical treatment. These challenges have led physicians to develop "superconstruct" techniques to improve fixation, whereby fusion is extended beyond the zone of injury to include joints that are not affected, bone resection is performed to shorten the extremity to allow for adequate reduction of deformity without undue tension on the soft tissue envelope, the strongest device is used that can be tolerated by the soft tissue envelope; and the devices are applied in a novel position that maximizes mechanical function. This article reviews three techniques designed to achieve lasting deformity correction and successful arthrodesis: plantar plating, locked plating, and axial screw fixation.

Distal femur defects reconstructed with polymethylmethacrylate and internal fixation devices: a biomechanical study

Benign aggressive distal femur tumors are treated with curettage, adjuvant phenol or argon, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) packing. For large defects, an internal fixation device is added to reduce the fracture risk. The purpose of this study is to compare the strength of locking plates to other fixation devices for stabilization of these defects. Lateral condyle defects in young, fresh frozen femurs were packed with PMMA and augmented by internal fixation. Three groups of 4 matched pairs of femurs were organized for the following comparisons: (1) stacked Steinmann pins vs crossed screws; (2) stacked pins vs locking plates; and (3) crossed screws vs locking plates. Specimens were subjected to axial load-to-failure testing on an MTS machine. There was no difference in load-to-failure strength (P=.177) using Steinmann pins or crossed screws. Locking plate constructs were stronger (P=.028) than Steinmann pin constructs. Locking plate constructs were also stronger (P<.001) than crossed-screw constructs. Steinmann pin constructs failed with severe intra-articular fractures; crossed screw constructs failed with bulging of the defects, articular impaction, and minimal fracture propagation. Locking plate constructs failed with extra-articular spiral shaft fractures.

Utilization of the less-invasive stabilization system internal fixator for open fractures of the proximal tibia: a multi-center evaluation

BACKGROUND

Locked plating has become popular and has clear biomechanical advantages when compared with conventional plating. When combined with minimally invasive surgical techniques, locked plating may cause substantially less iatrogenic tissue damage when compared with conventional plating. These characteristics may make locked plating an attractive option for treating open fractures of the tibial plateau and proximal tibia for which coverage over the plate can be obtained. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of the Less-Invasive Stabilization System (LISS) for high-energy open fractures involving either the tibial plateau or proximal tibia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study is a retrospective evaluation of a consecutive multicenter series of 52 consecutive patients operated by seven surgeons, who used LISS plating in open proximal tibia or tibial plateau fractures seen at one of four Level I Trauma Centers. All patients were treated using a locked plating system that was implanted using minimally invasive submuscular surgical techniques. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of deep and superficial infection.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients with open fractures have been evaluated, with a mean follow-up of 16.8 (12-36) months. Three patients (5.8%) developed deep infections. Two patients (6.3%) with tibial plateau and one (4.3%) of patients with a tibial shaft fracture developed deep infections. Fifteen patients required flap coverage of their open wounds. The incidence of deep infection as per Gustilo and Anderson classification was Type I and II - 0 (0%); Type IIIA - 2 (7.7%); Type IIIB - 1 (7.1%); and Type IIIC - 0 (0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Biomechanically, the LISS functions as an "internal-external fixator" rather than a plate. Traditional plate osteosynthesis has yielded rates of infection between 18% and 35%. Our data indicate that locked plating using minimally invasive techniques yield deep infections rates that are no worse than published series using intramedullary nails or external fixators. Technical difficulties that can be encountered with the LISS system revolve primarily around obtaining and maintaining reduction while performing a minimally invasive procedure. Additional difficulties can include "cold welding" of screws to the plate and malposition of the plate leading to failure in the diaphysis. High-energy open fractures involving the tibia shaft or plateau remain high-risk injuries, but LISS is an acceptable alternative for treatment of these fractures.