2. • Osteosynthesis is a type of reconstructive surgery aimed at
stabilising and joining the ends of a broken bone after a
fracture, an osteotomy, or a non-union from a previous fracture.
Bone fragments are stabilised by using mechanical devices
3. There are two types of osteosynthesis:
• External osteosynthesis – that is, by using an external fixator.
This method can be used if you have a compound fracture,
which has a high risk of infection.
• Internal osteosynthesis – there are two kinds of internal
osteosynthesis: open reduction internal fixation (ORIF)
and closed reduction internal fixation (CRIF). ORIF consists
of open surgery to set the bones, while CRIF involves reduction
without open surgery to achieve the same ends. Next,
mechanical devices like pins, plates, or screws are used to fix
the bones together.
5. Protection (neutralization) plates
• Function
• A protection plate neutralizes bending and rotational forces to
protect a lag screw fixation.
• This is equally true of plates with locking or non-locking screws.
6. Compression plates
• Function
• The plate produces compression at the fracture site to provide
absolute stability.
• Application (transverse fractures, oblique fractures)
7. Bridge plates
• Function
• Bridge plating techniques are used for multifragmentary long
bone fractures where intramedullary nailing or conventional
plate fixation is not suitable.
8. Buttress (antiglide) plates
• Function
• Buttress plates are used in managing partial articular fractures.
They are used to supplement lag screw fixation of metaphyseal
shear or split fractures in the metaphyseal regions. Lag screws
may be inserted either through or outside the buttress plate.
