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Functional load of plates in fracture fixation in vivo and its correlate in bone healing.

In clinical practice efforts are made to apply a fixation plate on the side opposite the strongest muscle pull. This achieves an optimal distribution of compression between the fragment ends (principle of tension band plating). This is however frequently impossible for anatomical or surgical reasons. In an 'in vivo' study lasting 8 weeks a standardized oblique osteotomy was performed on the tibia of 16 sheep in four different models of tension band plating (a contoured and an overbent plate with or without an interfragmentary lag screw) were assessed. Tension on the plate surface was recorded by strain gauges for different gait speeds on the treadmill. These measurements were performed throughout the experiment. Radiographs were taken at regular intervals in order to assess stability and polychrome sequential labelling and microradiographs served to investigate the healing process. Possible relationships and/or interactions between plate tension and bone healing were investigated. Implant loading under bending strain was reduced the most for the combination of plate overbending with a lag screw. The insertion of a lag screw reduces the surface strain on the plate whether it is contoured or overbent. The bending and torsional forces are greatest if a straight plate is used alone and the principle of tension band plating is not applied. Direct bone healing was only observed in the group with contoured plate and lag screw. Overbending combined with a lag screw provided only a relatively unstable fixation. A residual gap immediately beneath the plate permits "dynamic compression" since the screws slide towards the osteotomy when loaded producing bone resorption under the plate and signs of screw loosening. The models with contoured and overbent plates without a lag screw were histologically assessed as very unstable with signs of secondary fragment displacement, obvious callus formation, resorption at the fragment ends and under the plate, delayed and diminished Haversian remodelling and corrosion sites at the screw heads and at the adjacent site on the plate hole. In all groups, stripping of the periosteum under the plate was associated with porosis of the corresponding cortex as a sign of temporarily impaired blood supply. A relationship between implant loading and/or unloading (stress shielding) could not be demonstrated. Callus formation, measured quantitatively on the radiographs, is directly related to the strain on the plate. Direct bone healing is rapid and is seen histologically three weeks postoperatively, particularly for fixations with contoured plate and lag screw. The early appearance of fixation callus in the presence of an intact blood supply indicates a primary instability of the osteosynthesis. Later, it may be an indication of secondary instability. The time at which osteons appear, their number and location provides information on the stability of the osteosynthesis. At a time when indirect fracture reduction and stabilization using minimally invasive techniques and implants is being propagated, additional ways and means must be sought to assess clinically the load on the implants and the risk of implant failure.

Animals↗

[Evaluating the stability of fracture fixation systems: mechanical device for evaluation of 3-D stiffness in vitro].

Different fixation systems are used for fracture and defect treatment. A prerequisite for complication free healing is sufficient mechanical stability of the osteosynthesis. In vitro investigations offer the possibility of both analysing and assessing the pre-clinical fixation stability. Due to the complex loading environment in vivo, stiffness analysis should include a complete determination of the stiffness under standardised conditions. Based on a mathematical procedure to calculate the 3-D stiffness, a mechanical testing device for the 3-D loading of fixation systems was designed and integrated in the existing test set-up. The set-up consisted of a material testing machine to produce the necessary loads and an optical measurement device to detect the resulting inter-fragmentary movements. To validate the testing device, the 3-D stiffness matrices of different Ilizarov fixator configurations were determined and compared. The good reproducibility of the test was reflected in the small intra-individual variability of the stiffness components. A distinct direction dependence of the fixator stiffness was observed. Increasing the number of rings led to a stiffness increase of up to 50%, especially in bending. The presented testing device allows a complete standardised determination of the stiffness of different fixation systems. It considers the direction dependence of the stiffness and creates a prerequisite for a more direct implant comparison.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Policy of consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeons towards removal of miniplate components after jaw fracture fixation: pilot study.

A pilot study was undertaken to find out the policy of the 23 consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the West Midlands towards removal of miniplates after jaw fractures had healed. All 23 replied. Two consultants did not use miniplates; the other 21 respondents used titanium systems, and two also used a stainless steel system. None of the 21 respondents routinely removed all miniplates. The estimated total of miniplates removed after the fracture had healed ranged between 5% and 40% (mode 5%). The main indications for removal were wound infection or dehiscence, before construction of a prosthesis, patients' concern about permanent retention of an implant, and thermal conductivity. We conclude that miniplates and screws are removed mainly to treat symptoms caused by the implants.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Lag screws for hip fracture fixation: Evaluation of migration resistance under simulated walking.

Previous mechanical studies concerning cut-out of lag screws for pertrochanteric hip fractures have relied on static or dynamic uniaxial loading regimens to induce construct failure by varus collapse and superior cut-out. However, the hip is loaded in a multiplanar, dynamic manner during normal gait. We designed a hip implant performance simulator (HIPS) system to evaluate lag screw cut-out under multiplanar loading representative of normal gait. Five surrogate pertrochanteric fracture specimens with lag screw fixation were loaded up to 20,000 cycles using a biaxial rocking motion (BRM) gait simulation protocol. Another five specimens were loaded using a standard uniaxial loading protocol. The BRM loading group exhibited combined varus collapse (5.4+/-2.9 degrees ) and backward rotation (7.2+/-2.8 degrees ). The uniaxial loading group exhibited four times less varus collapse (1.4+/-1.1 degrees ) as compared to the BRM group, and only negligible rotation. For correlation of lag screw migration in surrogate specimens to that in native bone, six human cadaveric specimens were subjected to BRM loading. The degree of varus collapse (8.5+/-7.7 degrees ) and rotation (7.2+/-6.4 degrees ) in cadaveric specimens were comparable to that in surrogate specimens, with the surrogate specimens showing significantly less variability. The results demonstrate that accounting for clinically realistic multiplanar loading vectors significantly affects implant migration, and therefore should be considered when evaluating the fixation strength of hip screw implants.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Avascular femoral head necrosis following fracture fixation.

A prospective, randomized trial of 104 consecutive patients with displaced fractures of the femoral neck treated with either a sliding screw plate or four AO cancellous bone screws was performed to study the influence of the fixation device and the fixation procedure on the vascularity of the femoral head. The vitality of the femoral head was determined by 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy performed 2-3 months after the operation. Eighty-seven patients (84 per cent) were available for assessment. The two treatment groups were comparable with regard to age, degree of primary displacement and quality of reduction. There were significantly more (P less than 0.01) avascular femoral heads or femoral heads with reduced vascularity in the sliding screw plate group (14/40, 35 per cent) than in the four AO cancellous bone screw group (5/47, 11 per cent).

Adult↗

Fractured neck of femur in a child after femoral fracture fixation by intramedullary flexible nails: a case report.

Since the introduction of flexible intramedullary nails, the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in adolescents has been revolutionized and this has become the routine treatment in most units, with minimal complications. We report a rare complication of an ipsilateral fractured neck of femur in a fit and healthy 12-year-old girl 6 months after treatment of a traumatic fractured femoral shaft; this was treated effectively with cannulated screws and the patient was successfully discharged without any further complication.

Bone Nails↗

Acetabular fracture fixation via a modified Stoppa limited intrapelvic approach. Description of operative technique and preliminary treatment results.

Between March 1991 and December 1992 the authors surgically treated 55 acetabular fractures using a modified Stoppa anterior intrapelvic extensile approach. Indications for utilization of this approach included displaced anterior column or wall fractures, transverse fractures, T shaped fractures, both column fractures and anterior column or wall fractures associated with a posterior hemitransverse component. The approach involves a transverse skin incision 2 cm above the pubic symphysis followed by a midline split of the rectus abdominis. Access to the intrapelvic aspect of the pelvis and acetabulum is gained by retraction of the muscular, neurovascular and urological structures. This modified Stoppa approach affords excellent visualization of the pelvic ring, facilitating the development and utilization of improved reduction and plating options. Patients were followed for an average of 17.7 months. All fractures united 6-12 weeks postoperatively. Radiographic grades were excellent (64%), good (25%), fair (7%) and poor (4%). Fixation and subsequent reduction were lost in 1 patient. Two transient obturator nerve palsies were diagnosed. There was 1 infection and 1 inguinal hernia. Posttraumatic arthritic changes were noted in 6 patients within the first postoperative year. There was no significant heterotopic ossification, major vascular injury iatrogenic palsy or intraarticular hardware placement. Clinical results were excellent (47%), good (42%), fair (9%) and poor (2%). The modified Stoppa incision offers the experienced trauma surgeon a new approach for fixation of displaced acetabular fractures. The approach offers improved reduction and fixation possibilities and may decrease the rate of complications associated with extrapelvic or extensile approaches.

Acetabulum↗