Congruency of Scapula Locking Plates: Implications for Implant Design

While often treated non-operatively, certain displaced scapular fractures have shown improved clinical results with open reduction and internal fixation [1, 2]. Common methods of internal fixation for fractures of the scapula include non-locking and locking fracture plates. Locking scapula plate designs have several advantages over other repair techniques. First, they are site-specific and pre-contoured, which reduces soft-tissue irritation. Soft-tissue irritation is a common patient complaint, ultimately resulting in revision surgery in 7.1% of all scapular fracture cases [3]. A second advantage of locking plate designs is that the fixed angle design also helps create a more stable construct in thin cortical bone. Lastly, the anatomical fit of the locking scapula plates allows for reconstruction of comminuted fractures.Copyright © 2010 by ASME