Key Features

• Precontoured plates: Plates are precontoured to match the patient’s anatomy — and act as a template to restore the natural anatomic geometry of the distal humerus.
• Parallel plate placement: Biomechanical data shows parallel plate placement (vs. 90° orientation) has greater strength and stability. Dr. O'Driscoll’s experience shows parallel placement promotes early rehabilitation and preservation of elbow function and motion.
• Tap-Loc Technology: Surgeons can choose the optimal locking screw trajectory — up to 20° in each direction — maximizing fixation in the distal fragments and providing the best possible patient outcome. A customized tap creates threads in the plate hole.
• Color-coded: Plates are available in a range of sizes and are color-coded for quick identification.
• The Hexalobe Screw System has been created specifically for the Acumed Elbow Plating System for increased strength and performance.

Biomechanics

Parallel Plating

90° plate orientation was supported early on in a study that compared 90° plating to a Y-plate and crossed screws, but did not compare "perpendicular" to "parallel" plating. A second comprehensive study found "parallel" plating to be the best construct for reconstruction of a comminuted distal humerus. This study proved that plates placed in parallel configuration on the medial and lateral columns were stronger than 90° plating when a gap was present between the articular fragments and the shaft, as when the humerus is severely fractured. Both studies were written before the introduction of the Elbow Plating System which optimizes the biomechanics even further with locking capability, plate placement and plate strength.

Finite element analysis testing at Acumed indicated significant advantages of parallel plating versus 90° plating. For this study, a computer modeled a distal humerus fracture and assumed equivalent plate fixation and strength (two areas in which the Acumed Elbow Plates are significantly better than 90° plating with reconstruction or tubular plates). The program simulated a load of 50 lbs. in three different planes: A/P, M/L, and Torsion. The results supported parallel plating, especially in torsional loads.

90° Plating Displaced:
Anterior/Posterior: 53% more
Medial/Lateral: 5% less
Torsion: 80% more

Tap-Loc Technology

Results showed that a Hexalobe Screw installed using Tap-Loc Technology at 20° can sustain a load up to 90% of the failure load of a screw installed in a pre-threaded hole and Hexalobe Screws installed using Tap-Loc Technology at 0° were equal in strength to the pre-threaded holes.

Sources:
“Internal Fixation of the Distal Humerus: A Biomechanical Comparison of Methods,” Helfet and Hotchkiss, Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 1990.
“Biomechanical Evaluation of Methods of Internal Fixation of the Distal Humerus,” Schemitsch, Tencer and Henley, Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 1994.