Plate preparation

Non-locking plates must be anatomically contoured to the surface of the bone.

If a dynamic compression or limited contact dynamic compression plate is used, it needs to be contoured accurately to the surface of the bone.

In the distal part of the canine humerus, less bending is needed to contour a plate to the medial surface. Medial plating is, therefore, often the preferred option in this area.

Locking plates may need some contouring; they should not be more than 2 mm away from the surface of the bone.

Note: The plate should not be bent over the locking holes.

Compression plates must be overbent to produce a 1–2 mm gap between the plate and the bone at the fracture sites. Overbending the plate at the fracture lines ensures even compression across the fracture lines.