RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Authors' previous studies showed that U-shaped plate could give continuously pressure to broken ends of fractured bone and make the fractured region in an optimal environment and promote union of fracture.OBJECTIVE: To discuss the loading ability of modified U-shaped plate.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The single sample experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Materials Mechanics, Central South University from December 1990 to April 2001.MATERIALS: Plain bone plate is provided by Jiangsu Jinlu, China. AO plate and dynamic compression plate are purchased from MATHYS, Switzerland. U-shaped plate is a modified plate with a U-shaped arm in the middle of a common plate (Patent number 012497304).METHODS: We measured the mechanics of experimental mode to understand the compressing and distorting ability, m test theoretic calculation and to compare with common plate, AO plate and dynamic compression plate.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bending ability and distorting ability.RESULTS: Compared with the same usage of AO-Plate and dynamic compression plate at sagittal face, the bending ability of U-shaped plate could increase respectively by 107.5% and 21.5%, and the distorting ability increase respectively by 406% and 58%. Distorting ability increased by 31.9%, compared with limited contact dynamic compress plate (LC-DCP).CONCLUSION: Modified U-shaped plate is an eligible plate of enough strength and rigidity, compared with common AO plate and compress plate.