Table 1.

Pearls and Pitfalls of the TriS Medial DFO Plate

Pearls

1. A diamond-shaped plate head instead of a square-shaped head

•Impingement between the plate head and medial patellofemoral ligament can be minimized.

2. More distally aimed distal screws

•The longer screws can be inserted in the distal part of the osteotomy.

3. Cannulated structure of the screws

•The risk of jamming of the screw head due to cross-threading can be decreased by confirming the appropriate drill hole direction.

•Use of a Kirschner wire as a guide enables safe and easy screw insertion through the vastus medialis muscle.

•Plate removal is possible with a smaller incision.

4. A specifically designed compression hook

•It is easy to provide perpendicular compressive force to the oblique osteotomy line.

•Combination of the bulb-shaped hook base and the screw hole stopper prevents slippage of the hook.

•The cannulated structure of the hook helps prevent slippage.

Pitfalls

•The compression hook device should be as perpendicular as possible to the oblique osteotomy line to prevent the medial shift of the proximal part.

•The compression hook should not be overtightened to avoid lateral hinge fracture

•Monocortical fixation for the most proximal screw hole is recommended to avoid stress concentration at the plate end.