Stability of Radial Head and Neck Fractures: A Biomechanical Study of Six Fixation Constructs With Consideration of Three Locking Plates

PurposeOpen reduction and internal fixation of radial neck fractures can lead to secondary loss of reduction and nonunion due to insufficient stability. Nevertheless, there are only a few biomechanical studies about the stability achieved by different osteosynthesis constructs.MethodsForty-eight formalin-fixed, human proximal radii were divided into 6 groups according to their bone density (measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). A 2.7-mm gap osteotomy was performed to simulate an unstable radial neck fracture, which was fixed with 3 nonlocking implants: a 2.4-mm T plate, a 2.4-mm blade plate, and 2.0-mm crossed screws, and 3 locking plates: a 2.0-mm LCP T plate, a 2.0-mm 6x2 grid plate, and a 2.0-mm radial head plate. Implants were tested under axial (N/mm) and torsional (Ncm/°) loads with a servohydraulic materials testing machine.ResultsThe radial head plate was significantly stiffer than all other implants under axial as well as under torsional loads, with values of 36 N/mm and 13 Ncm/°. The second-stiffest implant was the blade plate, with values of 20 N/mm and 6 Ncm/°. The weakest implants were the 2.0-mm LCP, with values of 6 N/mm and 2 Ncm/°, and the 2.0-mm crossed screws, with values of 18 N/mm and 2 Ncm/°. The 2.4-mm T plate, with values of 14 N/mm and 4 Ncm/°, and the 2.0-mm grid plate, with values of 8 N/mm and 4 Ncm/° came to lie in the midfield.ConclusionsThe 2.0-mm angle-stable plates—depending on their design—allow fixation with comparable or even higher stability than the bulky 2.4-mm nonlocking implants and 2.0-mm crossed screws.