Stiffness of Locking and Conventional Plates in Fixation of Distal Fibula Fractures; A Finite Element Study

摘要

The objective of this study is to establish and differentiate the stiffness of conventional and fixed angle screw constructs for the treatment of distal fibula fractures. Two plate types are ex amined; afibular neutralization plate and a lateral periarticular distal fibular plate with fixed angle (locked) screws. The neutral ization plate is considered with two construct types; conventional and locked screws. Several comparisons were made to differen tiate the stiffness of the plate constructs. First, the neutralization plate is examined with conventional and locked screws when used for fixation of Danis-Weber B and comminuted fractures. Sec ond, neutralization and periarticular plates are compared with locked screws for the same fracture patterns. The stiffnesses of the constructs are computed with the finite element method based on several load cases. The type of screw construct is found toI have minimal effect on the stiffness, whereas the plate type is found to have a larger influence due to geometrical differences. The comparison is limited to stiffness; the strength of the con structs should be examined in future work.