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RATIONALE: The purpose of the current study is to establish the biomechanical rationale for the increased risk of periprosthetic fracture associated with locking screw constructs over conventional screw constructs. This is important because the promise of locking plates to increase fixation in osteoporotic bone must be balanced with the potential complication of a periprosthetic fracture. An understanding of the biomechanical rationale for fracture may result in a potential solution to improve fixation in osteoporotic bone while minimizing complications. Our hypothesis was that the application of a conventional screw at the end of a locking screw construct (hybrid plating) leads to a decrease in contact stress at the interface between the plate and the bone.