A comparison of complication rates between locking and non-locking plates in distal fibular fractures

Locking compression plates have become increasingly popular in orthopaedic surgery. However, the gold standard of treatment for distal fibular fractures remains fixation with a non-locking one-third tubular plate. It has been reported that locking plates in distal fibular fractures are associated with an increased complication rate. The objective of this study is to assess the complication rates of locking versus non-locking plates in patients who underwent surgical fixation of distal fibular fractures. A retrospective analysis of closed distal fibular fractures that underwent surgical repair over a 2-year period with either a locking or non-locking plate was undertaken, analysing the groups for both wound and overall postoperative complications. A total of 160 patients were treated over 2 years, of which 129 and 31 patients were treated with non-locking and locking plates respectively. There was no significant difference between the non-locking and locking plates overall complication rates (13.5% versus 15.4%, p=0.76) or wound complication rates (3.97% versus 3.85%, p=1.00). Distal fibular fractures managed with locking plates do not have a higher complication rate in comparison to those managed with non-locking plates. III (case control study).