Among patients with comminuted supination external rotation ankle fractures, a combination locked plate was biomechanically superior to a standard one-third tubular plate, according to results of a study recently published in Foot and Ankle Surgery.

Researchers fixed supination external rotation (SER) injuries with a screw for simple oblique fibular fractures using an osteoporotic and comminuted Sawbones model and either a one-third tubular neutralization plate or a locking plate. Samples were tested in stiffness, peak torque, displacement at failure and torsion fatigue.

Overall, they found no statistically significant difference in biomechanical testing between locked and one-third tubular plates for the fractures treated with a lag screw and plate. Study results also indicated that locked plating demonstrated stiffer fixation for comminuted fractures.

Disclosure: Bariteau has no relevant financial disclosures.