• OBJECTIVES
    • Our aim was to test the hypothesis that two plates placed parallel to each other are stronger and stiffer than plates placed perpendicular to each other for fixation of a distal humerus fracture model.
  • METHODS
    • We created an artificial distal humeral fracture model by osteotomizing two groups of identical epoxy resin humera. Screw and plate constructs were built to mimic osteosynthesis. In the first group, 3.5-mm reconstruction plates were placed parallel to each other along each of the medial and lateral supracondylar ridges. In the second group, 3.5-mm reconstruction plates were placed perpendicular to each other with a medial supracondylar ridge plate and a posterolateral plate. Stiffness and strength data of the two constructs were obtained by testing to failure with sagittal plane bending forces.
  • RESULTS
    • The parallel plate group (n = 7) had a mean stiffness of 214.9 +/- 43.3 N/mm and a mean strength of 304.4 +/- 63.5 N. The perpendicular plate group (n = 8) had a mean stiffness of 138.3 +/- 44.6 N/mm and a mean strength of 214.9 +/- 43.3 N. These differences were significant (Student's t test, P < 0.05).
  • CONCLUSIONS
    • As theoretically expected, a parallel plate configuration is significantly stronger and stiffer than a perpendicular plate configuration when subjected to sagittal bending forces in a distal humerus fracture model.