LCP Equine T-Plate 4.5
Christoph Lischer, Fabrice Rossignol, Jeffrey P Watkins
Fig 1: Illustration of the 4-hole LCP Equine T-Plate 4.5 on a foal's tibia. Physeal fractures of the foals proximal tibia are challenging cases to manage due to limited implant purchase in the small epiphyseal fracture segment and the relatively soft bone in the epiphysis and metaphysis. To avoid support limb complications in the active foals, they must return to full weightbearing on the affected limb immediately after surgery. Furthermore, the proximal location of the injury precludes the use of external coaptation to support the repair.
Currently, the recommended method of fixation is to use a standard plating technique, with a single screw in the proximal end of the plate engaging the epiphyseal segment. Single plate fixation is typically augmented with a transphyseal screw / wire fixation or, in large foals, a second plate.
The Equine T-Plate is designed to provide a single implant solution with multiple locking screw fixation in the epiphyseal segment as well as the ability to place locking screws throughout the length of the plate to augment fixation in the soft immature foal bone.
Plate design
The AOTK approved LCP Equine T-Plate 4.5 is indicated for the treatment of physeal fractures of the proximal tibia in foals. The plate is made of 316L stainless steel, is compatible with the Large Fragment system, and available in the following sizes (Fig 2):
- 4-hole plate (91 mm)
- 6-hole plate (127 mm)
- 8-hole plate (163 mm)
- 10-hole plate (199 mm)
The screw trajectory is designed to optimize bony purchase. Furthermore, cortex screws can be applied through the plate in lag fashion to compress the metaphyseal fracture common in type 2 physeal fractures of the proximal tibia in foals. Additional wire holes allow temporary fixation with K-wires in the epiphysis, and combi-holes allow cortex screw and locking screw fixation at the discretion of the surgeon (Figs 3 and 4):
- Stacked combi-holes in the head of the plate accept locking and cortex screws
- Standard combi-holes in the straight portion of the plate allow screw selection as well as the opportunity to provide dynamic compression between fracture segments with cortex screws
- Incorporation of locking technology permits a fixed-angle device to increase construct stability and augment fixation in soft, immature bone.
Versatility
The Equine T-Plate, which incorporates locking technology, is intended to enhance fixation in short fracture segments where traditional plate fixation would be inadequate. Although the plate has been designed to treat physeal fractures of the foals proximal tibia, there are a wide variety of other applications including physeal or metaphyseal fractures of other long bones as well as partial carpal and tarsal arthrodesis.
LCP Equine T-Plate 4.5
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