Abstract: The internal fixation using metal bone plate is one of common method for the clinical treatment of fracture, it plays a role in fixation, protection and supporting of the fractured bone segments, but it also suffers high failure rates in clinical practice. This article reviewed the commonly used methods of failure analysis of bone plate, and described the research results of the failure analysis of bone plate in detail. The fatigue fracture of bone plate caused by stress concentration is the common fracture pattern. In addition, the article summarized the performance optimizations according to the cause of failure, then discussed its future development trends.