Calcaneal Locking Plate
The Calcaneal Locking Plates are designed to address complex fractures and osteotomies of the calcaneus, including, but not limited to extraarticular, intraarticular, joint depression, tongue type and severely comminuted fractures. The plates are applied to the lateral side. The plate has 15 threaded holes, which accept 2.7 mm and 3.5 mm Cortex Screws as well as 3.5 mm Locking Screws. The numerous holes enable versatility and provide options to address multiple fragments and fracture patterns. It provides a fixed angle construct and a buttress to the articular surface of the calcaneus. The distal end of the plate has two bendable tabs to give support for the anterior process and plantar fragments. The plate is available in two sizes, short and large, and comes in a left and a right version. At the moment, the plate is available in stainless steel. A version in a special kind of titanium with 15% molybdenum is under development. Several new instruments were developed for the convenient use of this plate:
Tab Bender Pliers for Calcaneal Locking Plate
The Tab Bending Pliers are used to bend the two taps located on the Calcaneal Locking Plates. The surgeons now have the ability to safely contour the tabs of the plate in-situ for better anatomical fit.
2.8 mm Threaded Drill Guide
Guides a 2.8 mm drill bit perpendicular to the plate to ensure proper mating of the 3.5 mm Locking Screw and plate hole threads.
Threaded Plate Holders
Aids to position the plate to the bone and may also be used for in-situ bending to achieve a better plate fit.
Calcaneal Locking Plate Cutter
Facilitates precise hole/tab removal without creating upward facing burrs.
First clinical use (January 4, 2000, Dresden) of the new interlocking calcaneal plate in a B2 fracture of the calcaneus
The lateral view and the Brodns view show the deep impaction of the posterior facet (see Fig a-b).
The axial and coronal cut of the CT scan show the severe damage to the calcaneo-cuboidal and subtalar joint classified according to the new AO-Classification as 81.2 B2 [ie, (1.3.3)]. 81.2 = calcaneus, B2 = intraarticular fracture of two joints involved, d = posterior facet, h = cuboidal facet, 1.3.3 = bony lesion, multifragmentary, severely distocated (see Fig c-d).
Intraoperative situation after anatomical reduction and fixation with the interlocking plate. 1 = one of the four 2.0 mm K-wires, which are inserted in the talus and cuboid keeping the full thickness flap upwards for optimal exposure. 2 = tab bowed close to the bone in the calcaneal neck area to keep the ante (see Fig e-g).
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