Fig. 1

Examples of different models of specimen. The tibia in the external fixation (EF)-femur model (a) was plated on the medial aspect using an ure titanium 5-mm 9 + 7-hole LCP (medial distal femur plate, Kanghui), with a distance of 30-mm between the surface of the tibia to the lower surface of the plate. Standard, pure titanium 5-mm cortical screws were used in proximal slot nos. 1, 2, 4, and 7, as well as in distal slot nos. 10, 11, 12, and 13. The tibia in the EF-tibia model (b) was was plated on the medial aspect using a pure titanium 3.5-mm 9 + 10-hole LCP, with a distance of 30-mm between the surface of the tibia to the lower surface of the plate. Standard, pure titanium 3.5-mm cortical screws were used in proximal slot nos. 1, 2, 5, and 8, as well as in distal slot nos. 12, 13, 16, 17, and 18. The tibia in the LCP model (c) was plated on the medial aspect using a standard, pure titanium 3.5-mm 9 + 10-hole LCP, with standard, pure titanium 3.5-mm cortical screws used in proximal slot nos. 1, 2, 5, and 8, as well as in distal slot nos. 12, 13, 16, 17, and 18