ORIF - Lag screw with protection plate

Simple oblique or spiral fractures or intact wedge fractures can be reduced and fixed with lag screws. An additional protection plate is always needed and ideally the lag screw is inserted through the plate.

This procedure can only be carried out as an open one.

If necessary, the lag screw may be inserted outside the plate.

It is crucial to use a plate that is long enough so that at least three bicortical screws can be inserted into each main fragment.

The patient may be placed in one of the following positions:

• Supine position with manual traction
• Supine knee flexed 30°
• Scissor position

For this procedure a lateral approach is used.

After reduction of the main fragments using pointed forceps, precise contouring of the plate must be undertaken.

It is important to contour the plate to fit the bone precisely so that tightening the plate screws does not displace the fracture and might pull out the lag screw.

The lag screw is inserted perpendicular to the fracture plane, through the appropriate plate hole. Occasionally, a lag screw of a smaller gauge is used to avoid causing additional fractures.

At this stage, careful handling is mandatory to avoid any stress on the lag screw!

• Basic technique: insertion of cortical lag screws

The plate should be fixed to each main fragment with a minimum of three bicortical screws.

Illustration shows the completed osteosynthesis with the lag screw inserted outside the plate.

Close monitoring of the femoral muscle compartments should be carried out especially during the first 48 hours, in order to rule out compartment syndrome.

In all cases in which radiological control has not been used during the procedure, a check x-ray to determine the correct placement of the implant and fracture reduction should be taken within 24 hours.

Unless there are other injuries or complications, mobilization may be started on postoperative day 1. Static quadriceps exercises with passive range of motion of the knee should be encouraged. If a continuous passive motion device is used, this must be discontinued at regular intervals for the essential static muscle exercises. Afterwards special emphasis should be placed on active knee and hip movement.

Full weight bearing may be performed with crutches or a walker.

Wound healing should be assessed regularly within the first two weeks. Subsequently a 6 and 12 week clinical and radiological follow-up is usually made. A longer period may be required if the fracture healing is delayed.

Implant removal is not mandatory and should be discussed with the patient, if there are implant-related symptoms after consolidated fracture healing.