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Sliding Screw-Plate Angle



- See:
      - High Angle Plates
      - Low Plate Angle
      - Nail Placement in Femoral Head and Neck
      - Screw Length
      - Unstable Intertrochanteric Fractures

- Discussion:
    - sliding device w/ screw plate angle closest to combined force vector allows optimum sliding and impaction.
            - closer nail-plate angle to resultant vector of forces across hip, more force available to assist impaction;
    - plates are available in 5 deg increments from 130-150 deg, however, 135 & 150 deg plate angles are the most commonly used;
    - regardless of particular type of device used, it is essential to obtain maximal holdin capacity in the head;
    - matching the anatomic neck-shaft angle:
            - screw-plate angle may be determined w/ use of variable-angle guide after guide pin has been inserted or it can be chosen from preop radiographs;
            - guide pins are inserted at highest angle possible along medial cortex of neck fragment, while still being in center of femoral head on both AP & lateral radiographs;
            - as pointed out by Meislin RJ, et al (1990), there is no benefit to proximal medial femoral strain distribution using this method;
                     - the authors note that most intertrochanteric fractures can be treated successully w/ use of a 135 deg or 140 deg SHS;
            - as noted by Den Hartog BD, et al (1991), mean load to failure was signficantly increased in unstable intertrochanteric fractures by re-establishment of medial contact (using an osteotomy, use of a high angle plate, and placement of the lag screw in the center of the femoral head;
                      - A biomechanical analysis of the sliding hip screw: the question of plate angle.
                      - Treatment of the unstable intertrochanteric fracture. Effect of the placement of the screw, its angle of insertion, and osteotomy.
    - low plate angle:
            - 135 deg plates are indicated for most patients - for anatomic reduction;
            - device that is placed at lower angle has less force working parallel to sliding axis & more force working perpendicular to sliding axis;
                     - this perpendicular force acts to jam or bend the device, thereby preventing impaction.
            - device that is placed at lower angle may be used effectively in stable frx because controlled collapse is not important for impaction of the fracture and early weight-bearing;
    - high angle plates:
            - 150 deg plate angle may rest in weak bone of anterosuperior quadrant of femoral head unless valgus reduction & low nail placement are obtained;
            - nails in superior aspect of the femoral head can inadvertently interrupt lateral epiphyseal vessels that supply most of blood to femoral head;
            - technically, surgeon cannot place sliding device at high angle in small hip or in hip w/ varus deformity.
            - mechanically, it is desirable to place sliding device at as high angle as clinically possible while still maintaining placement of device in the center of head;

- Case Example:
    - this patient's fracture healed, but it probably would have been better to position the screw more inferiorly than was done in this case;

         



   



A biomechanical analysis of the sliding hip screw: the question of plate angle.

The value of the tip-apex distance in predicting failure of fixation of peritrochanteric fractures of the hip.

Trochanteric fractures: Influence of reduction and implant position on impaction and complications.