bridge plating
A fixation technique where the plate spans across the fracture without direct contact with all bone fragments.
Full Definition
Bridge plating is a biological fixation technique where the plate is secured with screws in the proximal and distal main fragments while spanning across comminuted or complex fracture areas without direct plate-to-bone contact in the fracture zone. This approach preserves the blood supply to small fracture fragments and promotes secondary bone healing through callus formation. The technique relies on the plate acting as a load-sharing device rather than achieving rigid anatomical reconstruction of every fragment. Bridge plating is particularly valuable in comminuted fractures where attempting to reduce and fix every fragment would compromise biology and healing potential.
Usage
Usage note: Emphasize the biological preservation aspect when describing bridge plating rationale.
In Context
- "Bridge plating was performed to preserve the soft tissue attachments of the comminuted fracture fragments." — Operative technique description
- "The bridge plating technique promoted secondary bone healing with abundant callus formation." — Follow-up radiological report