BIOMECHANICAL PECULIARITIES OF PLATE OSTEOSYNTHESIS FOR FRACTURES OF UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES

Abstract

In order to study biomechanics of plate osteosynthesis the review of the literature data about the use of different plates and screws for fracture fixation was done. The focus of the review was on the plate design, the connection interface between the screw head and the plate body, and the relations between the type of a plate and the stability of fracture fixation. The application of different types of plates fixed with locking head screws and non-locking head screws were studied for fractures of upper and lower extremities: humerus, forearm, femur and tibia. The application of plates with bigger section area and 4.5 mm or 5.0 mm screws is needed respecting the biomechanical peculiarities of lower extremity fractures, for which body weight is transferred to the fracture site, causing intensive strains in the components of bone-screws-plate system.