Biomechanical Analysis of Blade Plate Versus Locking Plate Fixation for a Proximal Humerus Fracture: Comparison Using Cadaveric and Synthetic Humeri

Abstract

For simulated humeral neck fractures subjected to cyclic loading, locking-plate constructs demonstrated significantly greater torsional stability and similar bending stability to blade plates in a cadaveric specimen model. In contrast, these same constructs performed similarly with torsional loading when using synthetic humerus specimens. These results indicate potential advantages for locking-plate fixation. They also indicate that the synthetic specimens tested may not be appropriate for evaluating fixation stability in the humeral head, where cancellous bone fixation predominates.