Locking screws and plates are different in how they behave. They behave more like “internal” External Skeletal Fixators. Although the threads of the screw shaft do engage the bone, the interface between bone and screw is not related to the attachment of the plate and screws. In locking plates it is the interface between the screw head and the plate that holds the plate to the screw. As the screw is tightened the bone maintains its position relative to the plate, it is not drawn up to it. This means perfect anatomical contouring is not required. The increased angular igidity of Locking Plate constructs places greater stresses onto the screw. Because Locking plates are not relying on the threads of the screw in the bone to hold the plate against the bone they do not need to be as coarse a thread as standard cortical screws. They need, only, to hold their position in the bone. Thus for the same outside diameter of screw the core diameter is increased, without increasing the likelihood of bone/screw interface failure. This increase in core diameter increases the resistance to bending and breakage of the screws.

Select locking screw and cortical screw 2.7mm