Article
Dynamic biomechanical Analysis of different Olecranon Fracture Fixation Devices – Tension Band Wiring versus Intramedullary Nailing – An in-vitro cadaveric study
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Published: | September 28, 2006 |
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Introduction: The aim of this study was to introduce a test-setup with dynamic angle alteration to imitate the joint motion for the evaluation of different olecranon fracture fixation devices and to introduce our new designed Olecranon-nailing system (ONS).
Materials and methods:21 fresh cadaver upper extremities underwent olecranon fracture by the means of transverse osteotomy and received 3 different fixation systems. Group 1: Tension band wiring (TBW) according to Weber. Group 2: XS-nail with 9 holes, all locked with 2 mm threaded K-wires. Group 3: ONS with 90 mm length, locked with 2,7 mm screws, a variable angle hole for the distal fragment and a distal locking screw. The servo-pneumatically test stand worked with a rotational angle-adjusted engine and and a linear force-adjusted engine. 2 steel pins were placed in the proximal, 2 in the distal olecranon fragment for video motion analysis. We measured the difference of motion between the 2 pairs of pins. After 300 cycles we compared the fragment displacement. The data were determined for statistical analysis.
Results: After 300 cycles the displacement in the fracture fixation model was significantly higher in the TBW-group than in both the ONS and the XS-nail group.
Conclusion: Other studies evaluating biomechanical properties of osteosynthesis with joint-involvement did not change the force-direction dynamically. We introduced a test-setup with dynamic angle alteration to imitate the joint motion. This is an important step for the accurate biomechanical evaluation of the treatment of different fracture fixation methods. The tested nailing systems showed advatages in loosening.