Effect of locking compression plate with intramedullary anatomical fibular allograft on proximal humerus fractures: A finite element analysis

Objective To evaluate the stabilization of three fixation methods, including locking compression plate with anatomical fibular allograft(LCP-AF), locking compression plate with fibular shaft allograft(LCP-FS) and locking compression plate fixation(LCP), for the treatment of proximal humeral fractures by finite element analysis. Methods The CT imaging data of osteoporotic proximal humerus were collected, and then finite element models of three fixation methods were established. The humerus were divided into osteoporotic bone and normal bone. Then, a loading force of 200 N in the axial direction was given, and the structural stability of the three internal fixation models was evaluated by finite element analysis. Results Structural stability in LCP-AF and LCP-FS were 3.88 times and 3.51 times of that in LCP, and maximum von Mises stress were 5.72 times and 5.35 times. The displacement of point A in the fracture region was the greatest in LCP, with 0.33 mm, 0.39 mm, 3.17 mm in LCP-AF, LCP-FS, and LCP,respectively. Conclusion The result of finite element analysis shows that LCP-AF model has better structural stability.