Comparison of a new minimum contact locking plate and the limited contact dynamic compression plate in an osteoporotic fracture model.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical properties of a new minimum contact locking plate (MC-LP) compared with the limited contact dynamic compression plate (LC-DCP). Eighteen pairs of fresh human osteoporotic cadaver radii were equally divided into three groups. Each specimen was tested in each of the following force applications: anteroposterior (AP) four point bending, mediolateral (ML) four point bending, and torsion. A 10-mm gap osteotomy model was used to simulate a comminuted diaphyseal radial fracture. For each pair, one radius received a limited contact dynamic compression plate (LC-DCP) and the contralateral radius was fixed with a minimum contact locking plate (MC-LP). Specimens were tested in nondestructive four point bending and torsion on an electronic universal material testing system. The results indicate that the MC-LP system is significantly more stable than the LC-DCP system when tested in four point bending and torsion in an osteoporotic comminuted radial diaphyseal fracture model.