A bone plate is a medical device used in the internal fixing of bone fractures. Screws are driven into the bone on either side of the fracture to secure the plate in place. Bone Plates are frequently used in the treatment of diaphyseal fractures of the upper extremity, as well as metaphyseal and articular fractures. They are now commonly used in conjunction with a variety of the gold-standard osteosynthesis procedures to treat fractures in all regions of the skeleton. 

Orthopedic Bone Plate needs to meet the following criteria in order to be a useful means of attachment.

  • It should be of an appropriate breadth and thickness for the bone that is being used.
  • The plate’s hold on either side of the fracture must be sufficient and symmetrical.
  • The plate must be directly opposite the shape of the bone. An exception is a bent or overly shaped plate.
  • All forces operating on the fracture, such as bending, compression, shear, and torque, must be countered by the plate.

Reasons Why Bone Plates Are Used

  • When accurate restoration of anatomical alignment is necessary
  • where using screws alone is insufficient
  • when load sharing can be successfully accomplished. A bone graft may be added at the location of any shortage if this cannot be ensured.

Orthopedic bone plates are typically used in the following body parts:

  • Around joints – failure to restore a joint surface to its usual shape may result in osteoarthritis due to uneven wear of the joint surfaces.
  • In the forearm bone, which revolves around one another.
  • Around the acetabulum, particularly on the pelvic
  • The tibia and femur are two other locations where plates may occasionally be employed.
  • Alternative procedures involving intramedullary nails have been developed, however because these long bones are subject to strong stresses, they are generally not recommended.
  • Long, non-weight-bearing bones, like the humerus, may be plateable, though nails are occasionally employed at this location as well.

Types of Bone Plating Techniques

Depending on the size and anatomical structure of the bone, plates come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Different plate sizes require various screw sizes. Any one of the following types of uses for a plate is possible, depending on the fracture’s kind and location. 

  • Compression Mode
  • Neutralization Mode
  • Buttress plate
  • Antiglide Plate
  • Span Plating or Bridge Plating
  • Tension Band

Different forms and sizes of bone plates are required for various anatomical regions.

Failure and Plate Fatigue

Bone Plate serves as a load-bearing mechanism. In other words, it carries the load transmission when it is used to repair the fracture. In contrast, load-sharing tools like interlock nails only partially bear the load; they share it with the bone. The transmission of load can be split between the plated bone and the fracture when it is well reduced and not comminuted.

However, the plate will be vulnerable to bending if there is a flaw or gap at the location of the fracture. This typically occurs when the broken bone is not correctly put back together. The imperfect bone-plate architecture may cause the plate to bend backwards and forwards in specific limb stress scenarios. This backward and front cyclical movement will probably cause the plate to fail from fatigue too soon.

When manufacturing a bone plate, a number of things should be taken into account in order to reduce this issue:

  • The fixation system with plates and screws should be made from a structure that is as stable as possible, along with the bone.
  • The bone’s blood supply should not be disrupted during surgery and after implantation to ensure that the fracture complex heals as soon as feasible.
  • The shattered bone should be positioned so that the plate places the least possible amount of stress on it.
  • Proper placement of the plate with respect to the soft tissues is essential to avoid causing additional harm to healthy tissue.
  • The plate should be manufactured from materials that are as durable as feasible and can withstand the wear-and-tear impacts of stress reversals.

Bone Plates Composition

The most popular type of bone plate is composed of stainless steel, which is durable, affordable, and simple to work with throughout production. However, in certain cases, stainless steel plates do not adapt well to stress reversals. 

Titanium is a material that is more biocompatible and enables surgeons to bend and shape surgical plates. However, it is expensive and challenging to process titanium. Compared to stainless steel, which contains nickel, titanium is more physiologically inert and less prone to trigger allergies. This material will probably start to be utilized more frequently in the future. It is crucial to keep in mind that plates and screws must be made of the same material in order to prevent corrosion of the implants.

Conclusion:

Powered by fully integrated in-house manufacturing capabilities, we have a laser-sharp focus on quality. Our obsession with quality, perfection, and excellence sets us apart. Gesco partners with medical device manufacturers from around the world to develop innovative, high quality locking and non-locking bone plates. Leveraging our end-end manufacturing expertise, we enable OEMs to move from design and prototype to high volume production at a rapid pace.