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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2025; 38(01): 025-033
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1788920
Original Research

Biomechanical Comparison of Three Locking Compression Plate Constructs from Three Manufacturers under Cyclic Torsional Loading in a Fracture Gap Model

Lik Hang Lai 
1   Department of Surgery, Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
,
Daniel Reynolds James
2   Department of Surgery, Sydney Veterinary Emergency & Specialists, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
,
Richard Charles Appleyard
3   Orthopaedic Biomechanics Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
,
Joseph Cadman
3   Orthopaedic Biomechanics Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Abstract

Objective The aim of the study was to compare the stiffness and cyclic fatigue of locking compression plate constructs from three manufacturers, DePuy Synthes (DPS), Knight Benedikt (KB), and Provet Veterinary Instrumentation (Vi), under cyclic torsion.

Methods The constructs of DPS, KB, and Vi were assembled by fixing a 10-hole 3.5-mm stainless steel locking compression plate 1 mm away from a validated bone model with a fracture gap of 47 mm. The corresponding drill guides and locking screws were used. Three groups of six constructs were tested in cyclic torsion until failure.

Results There was no significant difference in initial stiffness between DPS constructs (28.83 ± 0.84 N·m/rad) and KB constructs (28.38 ± 0.81 N·m/rad), and between KB constructs and Vi constructs (27.48 ± 0.37 N·m/rad), but the DPS constructs were significantly stiffer than the Vi constructs. The DPS constructs sustained the significantly highest number of cycles (24,833 ± 2,317 cycles) compared with KB constructs (16,167 ± 1,472 cycles) and Vi constructs (19,833 ± 4,792 cycles), but the difference between KB and Vi constructs was not significant. All constructs failed by screw damage at the shaft between the plate and the bone model.

Conclusion DPS constructs showed superior initial torsional stiffness and cyclic fatigue life than Vi constructs, whereas KB and Vi constructs shared comparable results. Further investigation is required to assess the clinical significance of these biomechanical differences.

Keywords

locking plate - cyclic loading - torsion - fatigue life - biomechanical performance of implants

Note

An abstract of this paper was presented at the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientist (Surgery Chapter), Gold Coast, Australia, July 29, 2023.


Authors' Contribution

L.H.L. and D.R.J. contributed to conception of the study, study design, acquisition of data, and data analysis and interpretation. R.C.A. and J.C. contributed to the study design, acquisition of data, and data analysis and interpretation. All the authors drafted, revised, and approved the submitted manuscript.




Publication History

Received: 08 October 2023

Accepted: 18 July 2024

Article published online:
05 August 2024

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