Fig. 20.

Diagram showing a long plate stabilizing a reduced segmental rib fracture (cross-sectional view). The plate is flush with the rib surface. The plate holes above the fracture lines are left empty. The first screw on the left is a self-drilling locking screw protruding too deep into the pleural cavity. The second screw from the left is a self-tapping locking screw that is inserted non-perpendicular to the rib surface with the screw head above the plate surface. The first screw on the right is too short and does not reach the inner cortex. The rest of the screws are flush with the plate surface and properly provide bicortical fixation.