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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2025; 38(02): 063-070
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1789263
Original Research

Effect of Plate Length on Construct Stiffness and Strain in a Synthetic Short-Fragment Fracture Gap Model Stabilized with a 3.5-mm Locking Compression Plate

Fabian N. Trefny
1   Division of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
,
Mark Glyde 
1   Division of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
,
Giselle Hosgood
1   Division of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
,
Alex Hayes
2   Department of Medical Engineering and Physics, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia
,
Robert Day
2   Department of Medical Engineering and Physics, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Funding The authors received partial financial support for the implants from DePuy Synthes.
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Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of 3.5-mm locking compression plate (LCP) length on construct stiffness and plate and bone model strain in a synthetic, short-fragment, fracture-gap model.

Study Design Six replicates of 6-hole, 8-hole, 10-hole, and 12-hole LCP constructs on a short-fragment, tubular Delrin fracture gap model underwent four-point compression and tension bending. Construct stiffness and surface strain, calculated using three-dimensional digital image correlation, were compared across plate length and region of interest (ROI) on the construct.

Results The 12-hole plates (80% plate–bone ratio) had significantly higher construct stiffness than 6-hole, 8-hole, and 10-hole plates and significantly lower plate strain than 6-hole plates at all ROIs. Strain on the bone model was significantly lower in constructs with 10-hole and 12-hole plates than 6-hole plates under both compression and tension bending.

Conclusion Incremental increases in construct stiffness and incremental decreases in plate strain were only identified when comparing 6-hole, 8-hole, and 10-hole plates to 12-hole plates, and 6-hole to 12-hole plates, respectively. Strain on the bone model showed an incremental decrease when comparing 6-hole to 10-hole and 12-hole plates. A long plate offered biomechanical advantages of increased construct stiffness and reduced plate and bone model strain, over a short plate in this in vitro model.

Keywords

plate length - strain - working length - locking compression plate

Authors' Contribution

All authors contributed to the conception and design of this study. F.T., M.G., R.D., and A.H. were involved with data acquisition and material testing. R.D. and A.H. provided technical support with material testing and use of software. G.H. contributed to acquisition of data and data analysis. All authors contributed to data interpretation and revision of the submitted manuscript.


Note

An abstract of this paper was presented at the annual European College of Veterinary Surgeons Congress, July 6, 2019, Budapest, Hungary. Results from this study were also presented at the AO Vet Symposium, Bridging the Gap: Translating Clinical Research to Clinical Practice, presented November 23, 2020, via Webinar.




Publication History

Received: 27 February 2024

Accepted: 06 August 2024

Article published online:
21 August 2024

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