[A biomechanical study on the fracture treatment--intravital measurement of the strain on an intramedullary nail in the healing process of the femoral fracture in goats (author's transl)].
UNLABELLED: There have been many biomechanical studies throughout the world on the fracture treatment. However, only a few were performed under intravital condition. The purpose of the present study is to measure the successive strength changes of the callus after a fracture, in vivo in an animal. METHOD: Specifically designed Küntscher nails were made to meet the anterior convexity and the size of the medullary canal of the femora of goats. Three self-temperature-compensating semi-conductor strain-gauges were glued on the inner surface of the nail and coated with epoxy-resin and silicone rubber. The nail was inserted into the intact femur, and the initial measurement of the strains was performed using a specially designed wooden three point bending jig. Then the femur was transected at the middle. Periodical measurements of the strains were done, first, during walking and, then, with the three point bending jig under general anesthesia. Ten goats were used for the experiments. The measurement was undertaken every two to three weeks. Serial x-rays were taken. The femur was studied histopathologically after the death of the animal. RESULTS: 1. Although the nail with the strain-gauges presented some foreign body reaction and certain difficulties in sterilization, it was well tolerated by the animal, permitting the strain measurement for as long as 18 weeks after the fracture. 2. There was a tendency that the less loosening is found between the nail and the bone, the larger is the strain and the smaller becomes the dispersion of the strains. 3. On the three point bending test, the post-fracture strain changes were not directly proportional to the lapse of time. In the early phase, the strains remained large for about four weeks and tended to rapidly decrease in the middle and late phases in accordance with the development of callus formation on x-ray. 4. A similar strain change was observed on the walking test, although the animal presented with some painful limp. The results suggest that early excessive exercise to be avoided when an intramedullary fixation is not sufficiently rigid.