• Luke McGarry, Jessica Rotaru, Rajitha Gunaratne, and Ian Hickey.
• Joondalup Health Campus, Joondalup WA, Australia. Electronic address: mcgarryluke@gmail.com.
• Injury. 2025 Jan 12; 56 (2): 112160112160.

BackgroundFemoral neck fractures, particularly Pauwels type II and III, pose significant challenges due to their vertical instability and susceptibility to complications such as non-union and avascular necrosis (AVN). Medial buttress plates (MBPs) have emerged as a promising adjunct in fixation, offering biomechanical advantages by neutralizing shearing forces and enhancing stability. However, the clinical efficacy of MBPs across different fixation techniques, plate configurations, and positioning remains unclear.PurposeThis study aimed to (1) analyse outcomes of femoral neck fracture fixations augmented with MBPs, focusing on Pauwels type 2 and 3 fractures, and (2) analyse the impact of plate size, positioning, and the use of MBPs in different fixation techniques.Study DesignSystematic review; Level of evidence, 4.MethodsTwo independent reviewers performed a literature search based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Studies published from 2010 onwards, focusing on MBPs in Pauwels type II and III femoral neck fractures, were included. Clinical outcomes and plate details were recorded.ResultsData from 21 studies, including 11 derived from meta-analyses, encompassing 642 patients were analysed. MBP-augmented fixations demonstrated a non-union rate of 6 %, an AVN rate of 4 %, and an overall failure rate of 17.3 %. The mean time to union was 3.9 ± 1.2 months, and the average HHS was 89.5 ± 5.5 at the final follow-up. Multiple cannulated screws (MCS) combined with a MBP showed a lower failure rate (14.6 %) compared to dynamic hip screw combined with a MBP (26.8 %), though not statistically significant (p = 0.164). Medial or anteromedial plate positioning yielded better outcomes, while anterior placement was associated with high failure rates. No studies examined the outcomes of femoral neck system fixation combined with a MBP.ConclusionMBPs are a valuable adjunct in managing Pauwels type II and III femoral neck fractures, providing favourable outcomes with low rates of failure and complications. The combination of MBPs with various fixation techniques has shown promising results, highlighting the potential for improved stability and outcomes. Further research is needed to optimize plate size, screw type, positioning, and the role of MBPs in augmenting fixation techniques for these challenging fractures.Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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