A dynamic compression plate (DCP) is a metallic plate used in

orthopedics Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics ( alternatively spelt orthopaedics), is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal ...

for

internal fixation Internal fixation is an operation in orthopedics that involves the surgical implementation of implants for the purpose of repairing a bone, a concept that dates to the mid-nineteenth century and was made applicable for routine treatment in the m ...

bone A bone is a Stiffness, rigid Organ (biology), organ that constitutes part of the skeleton in most vertebrate animals. Bones protect the various other organs of the body, produce red blood cell, red and white blood cells, store minerals, provid ...

, typically after

fractures Fracture is the separation of an object or material into two or more pieces under the action of stress. The fracture of a solid usually occurs due to the development of certain displacement discontinuity surfaces within the solid. If a displa ...

. As the name implies, it is designed to exert dynamic pressure between the bone fragments to be transfixed. Dynamic compression is achieved either by attaching a tension device to a plate or by using a special dynamic compression plate. However, compression plating requires a longer surgical incision to allow insertion of the tension device and the possibility of refracture after the plate is removed. A neutralization plate is used to bridge a comminuted fracture; it also transmits bending or torsional forces from the proximal to the distal fragment. Plates used for buttressing prevent collapse by supporting an area of thin cortex or cancellous bone graft. When plates are used,

atrophy Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. Causes of atrophy include mutations (which can destroy the gene to build up the organ), poor nourishment, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support, loss of nerve supply t ...

of the bone beneath the plate may predispose the bone to fracture. After removal of plates, fractures may occur through the screw holes.

Sliding screw plate

The sliding screw plate (dynamic compression screw,

dynamic hip screw Dynamic hip screw (DHS) or Sliding Screw Fixation is a type of orthopaedic implant designed for fixation of certain types of hip fractures which allows controlled dynamic sliding of the femoral head component along the construct. It is the most c ...

) may be used to treat

intertrochanteric A hip fracture is a break that occurs in the upper part of the femur (thigh bone). Symptoms may include pain around the hip, particularly with movement, and shortening of the leg. Usually the person cannot walk. They most often occur as a res ...

fractures as well as other injuries. This device consists of a

lag screw A screw and a bolt (see '' Differentiation between bolt and screw'' below) are similar types of fastener typically made of metal and characterized by a helical ridge, called a ''male thread'' (external thread). Screws and bolts are used to fa ...

and a side plate with a barrel. The sliding screw telescopes and provides fixation while allowing impaction to occur at the fracture during healing and

weight bearing In orthopedics, weight-bearing is the amount of weight a patient puts on an injured body part. Generally, it refers to a leg, ankle or foot that has been fractured or upon which surgery has been performed, but the term can also be used to refer to r ...

. Among the complications of sliding screw plate fixation are "cutting out" of the nail, penetration of the screw into the joint, bending or breaking of the nail, and disengagement of the screw from the barrel and even protrusion of the screw into the vertebrae.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dynamic Compression Plate Orthopedic implants Orthopedic surgical procedures