Mechanical effects of off-axis insertion of locking screws: should we do it?

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the cantilevered bending strength and failure modes of locking screws inserted at various angles in a plate with fully circumferential threaded holes. As an additional measure, the amount of screw head prominence at these angles was also assessed.

Methods: Standard 3.

A comparison of screw insertion torque and pullout strength.

Purpose: Pullout strength of screws is a parameter used to evaluate plate screw fixation strength. However, screw fixation strength may be more closely related to its ability to generate sufficient insertion because stable nonlocked plate-screw fracture fixation requires sufficient compression between plate and bone such that no motion occurs between the plate and bone under physiological loads. Compression is generated by tightening of screws.