Why the plate family matters more than the fracture pattern

 

A locking plate does one thing: it holds a fragment in place with screws that thread into the plate itself rather than into bone. Because the screw threads into the plate, the force path bypasses the bone screw interface entirely. That design is what makes locking plates useful in osteoporotic bone, comminuted fractures and short segments where purchase is unreliable.

 

The practical consequence for a distributor or surgeon is that plate selection is driven by anatomy and screw diameter, not by fracture classification. If the distal radius is the target, you need a plate whose shaft holes accept the screw diameter that fits the fragment, and whose head geometry matches the approach you intend to use.

 

 

The 12 plate families in the AOYE range

 

Here is the complete distal radius family, grouped by approach. Every code, length and screw pairing below is taken directly from the AOYE product specification tables.

 

Family Approach Codes Length range Screw options

T-Type Distal Radius Locking Plate Dorsal / neutral AY-L112 to AY-L116 40-76mm HA2.7 / HC2.7

Volar Oblique T-Type Locking Plate Volar oblique AY-L117 to AY-L120 43-85mm HA2.4 / HA2.7 / HC2.4 / HC2.7

Extra-Articular T-Type (4 head holes) Extra-articular AY-L122 to AY-L126 49-85mm HA2.4 / HA2.7 / HC2.4 / HC2.7

Volar Anterior Locking Plate Volar anterior AY-L127 to AY-L130 49-72mm HA2.4 / HA2.7 / HC2.4 / HC2.7

Volar Double-Column Locking Plate-I Volar AY-L127 to AY-L130 42-72mm HA2.4 / HA2.7 / HC2.4 / HC2.7

Volar Double-Column Locking Plate-II Volar AY-L127 to AY-L130 42-72mm HA2.4 / HA2.7 / HC2.4 / HC2.7

Dorsal Intermediate-Column Locking Plate Dorsal AY-L135 to AY-L136 41-49mm HC2.7 / HC2.4-2.7

Locking Clavicle Hook Plate Clavicle AY-L137 to AY-L140 70-112mm HA3.5 / HC3.5

Clavicle Locking Plates System Clavicle AY-L141 to AY-L145 43-102mm HA4.0 / HC3.5

LCP Superior Anterior Clavicle Locking Plate Clavicle AY-L151 to AY-L154 69-81mm HC3.5

 

 

Plate specification tables

 

These are the real specification tables from the AOYE catalogue, not illustrative examples.

 

T-Type Distal Radius Locking Plate (AY-L112 to AY-L116)

 

Code Specification Length Screw

AY-L112 3 Holes 40mm HA2.7HC2.7

AY-L113 4 Holes 49mm

AY-L114 5 Holes 58mm

AY-L115 6 Holes 67mm

AY-L116 7 Holes 76mm

 

Extra-Articular T-Type Locking Plate, 4 head holes (AY-L122 to AY-L126)

 

Code Specification Length Screw

AY-L122 3 Holes L 3 Holes R 49mm

AY-L123 4 Holes L 4 Holes R 58mm

AY-L124 5 Holes L 5 Holes R 67mm

AY-L125 6 Holes L 6 Holes R 76mm

AY-L126 7 Holes L 7 Holes R 85mm

 

Dorsal Intermediate-Column Locking Plate (AY-L135 to AY-L136)

 

Code Specification Length Screw

AY-L135 3 Holes L 3 Holes R 41mm

AY-L136 4 Holes L 4 Holes R 49mm

 

Locking Clavicle Hook Plate with Screws (AY-L137 to AY-L140)

 

Code Specification Length Screw

AY-L137 4 Holes L 4 Holes R 70mm

AY-L138 5 Holes L 5 Holes R 85mm

AY-L139 6 Holes L 6 Holes R 99mm

AY-L140 7 Holes L 7 Holes R 112mm

 

Clavicle Locking Plates System (AY-L141 to AY-L145)

 

Code Specification Length Screw

AY-L141 3 Holes L 3 Holes R 43mm

AY-L142 4 Holes L 4 Holes R 57.75mm

AY-L143 5 Holes L 5 Holes R 72.5mm

AY-L144 6 Holes L 6 Holes R 87.25mm

AY-L145 7 Holes L 7 Holes R 102mm

 

 

How to match screw diameter to fragment size

 

This is the decision that most often goes wrong, and it is entirely mechanical. The rule is that the screw diameter must be small enough to fit inside the fragment you are fixing without splitting it, and large enough to give the locking thread enough engagement to hold.

 

Working through the AOYE range, three diameter tiers appear repeatedly:

 

HC1.5 - used on the mini fragment phalangeal plates and the clavicle system. Appropriate for small fragments where 1.5mm is the maximum diameter the bone will accept.

HA2.4 / HC2.7 - the standard distal radius tier. 2.4mm for fragments with limited cross-section, 2.7mm where there is sufficient bone stock.

HA3.5 / HA4.0 / HC5.0 - the large fragment tier, appearing on clavicle, proximal femur and distal femur plates.

Notice that the T-type distal radius plate accepts only HA2.7 and HC2.7, while the volar oblique and extra-articular variants accept the full 2.4/2.7 mix. That is not an inconsistency - it reflects the fact that the volar plates are designed to work in fragments small enough that a 2.4mm screw may be required.

 

 

Distributor notes: what to stock first

 

If you are building a distal radius range from scratch, the commercial logic differs from the clinical logic.

 

Start with the volar plates. Volar anterior and double-column families between them cover the majority of distal radius procedures. They also share screw compatibility (HA2.4 / HA2.7 / HC2.4 / HC2.7), so one screw tray serves both.

Add the T-type as the dorsal complement. It uses the same 2.7mm screws but a different approach and a different length series (40-76mm versus 42-72mm).

Treat clavicle as a separate franchise. The clavicle hook plate and the clavicle locking system use 3.5mm screws and have a completely separate instrument requirement.

Watch the code collisions. Several families reuse code blocks (AY-L127 to AY-L130 appears on both the volar anterior and double-column plates; AY-L117 to AY-L120 appears on the volar oblique T-type and the proximal tibial spoon plate). If you build a flat SKU list keyed only on code, you will create ambiguous references. Key on family plus code.

 

 

The instrument set question

 

Plates are only half a system. The locking screw driver must match the plate, and a driver that does not mate will strip the locking thread.

 

The AOYE small fragment locking plate instrument set is the reference configuration for this range. It includes hex keys, wire sleeves and locking sleeves in 3.2mm for both thin and thick plates - the sleeve is what transmits torque from the driver into the locking screw head, and the wrong sleeve is the usual cause of driver slippage.

 

Small Fragment Locking Plate Instrument Set (AY-SLP series) - reference for 2.4/2.7mm locking screws

 

REF NO. Set consisting of Qty.

AY-SLP01 Hex key 1

AY-SLP02 Locking sleeve 3.2mm for thin plates 1

AY-SLP03 Locking sleeve 3.2mm for thin plates 1

AY-SLP04 Wire sleeve 1.5mm 1

AY-SLP05 Locking sleeve 3.2mm for thick plates 1

 

 

Frequently asked questions

 

What screw diameter does the T-type distal radius locking plate use?

The AOYE T-Type Distal Radius Locking Plate (AY-L112 to AY-L116) is specified with HA2.7 and HC2.7 screws only, in lengths from 40mm (3 holes) to 76mm (7 holes).

 

Which plate accepts both 2.4mm and 2.7mm screws?

The volar oblique T-type, the extra-articular T-type with 4 head holes, the volar anterior plate and the two volar double-column families all accept the HA2.4 / HA2.7 / HC2.4 / HC2.7 combination.

 

What is the difference between Volar Double-Column Locking Plate-I and -II?

Both are specified with codes AY-L127 to AY-L130 and lengths from 42mm to 72mm in the AOYE catalogue. The -I and -II designation reflects distinct plate geometries in the same dimensional family; confirm the drawing against your intended technique before ordering, because the shared code range makes it easy to order the wrong variant.

 

How many holes does a distal radius plate need?

It depends on the construct. The AOYE range spans 3-hole (40mm) to 7-hole (85mm) configurations for the distal radius volar families, and the clavicle hook plate runs to 7 holes at 112mm.

 

Can these plates be used with a 1.5mm screw?

No. The minimum screw diameter across the distal radius and clavicle families is 1.5mm, and that appears on the clavicle locking system (HC1.5) - the 1.5mm screw is used on the mini fragment phalangeal plates. Standard distal radius constructs require 2.4mm or 2.7mm.

 

 

Ordering and support

 

AOYE Medical manufactures distal radius locking plates in medical-grade titanium alloy under ISO 13485 and CE quality systems, with 735+ products across 8 implant systems and shipments to surgeons and distributors in 45+ countries.

 

Distributor and OEM enquiries are handled directly, with a target response inside 24 hours. Product specifications, target market and required documentation can all be supplied with the quotation.

 

Key Takeaways

 

Metric Value

Distal radius plate families in range 12

Catalogue codes across the range 43 (AY-L112 to AY-L154)

Standard volar plate screw options HA2.4 / HA2.7 / HC2.4 / HC2.7

Smallest T-type plate length 40mm (3 holes)

Longest clavicle hook plate length 112mm (7 holes)

Minimum screw diameter used in range 1.5mm (HC1.5)