LISS PLT: design, mechanical and biomechanical characteristics.

Following the development of the Less Invasive Sabilization System for Distal Femur a similar system for proximal tibia fractures (LISS PLT) was designed. Anatomical studies were carried out to define the shape of the plate and the position and orientation of the screws. Standard mechanical tests were performed to ensure that the LISS PLT fixation provides similar fatigue resistance to that of conventional plates. Finally, cadaver tibia pairs were used to compare the biomechanical performance of the new device to that of bilateral plating. An unstable intra-articular proximal tibia fracture model was used. The medial condyle of the tibias were submitted to loading cycles with increasing load levels and the vertical subsidence of the medial condyle during the loading cycles was monitored. Comparable stability against secondary loss of reduction was observed for the LISS PLT and the bilateral plating constructs.