An in vitro biomechanical comparison of interlocking nail constructs and double plating for fixation of diaphyseal femur fractures in immature horses.
Abstract: To compare the biomechanical properties of intact immature horse femurs and 3 stabilization methods in ostectomized femurs. Methods: Eighteen pairs of femurs from immature horses aged 1 to 15 months, and weighing 68 to 236 kg. Methods: Thirty-four immature horse femurs were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 test groups: 1) interlocking intramedullary nail (IIN) (n = 6); 2) IIN with a cranial dynamic compression plate (I/DCP) (n = 6); 3) 2 dynamic compression plates (2DCP) (n = 8); 4) intact femurs tested to failure in lateromedial (LM) bending (n = 6); and 5) intact femurs tested to failure in caudocranial (CaCr) bending (n = 8). Mid-diaphyseal ostectomies (1 cm) were performed in all fixation constructs. Biomechanical testing consisted of 4 nondestructive tests: CaCr bending, LM bending, compression, and torsion, followed by bending to failure. All groups were tested to failure in LM bending with the exception of 1 group of intact femurs tested to failure in CaCr bending. Stiffness and failure properties were compared among groups. Results: The 2DCP-femur construct had greater structural stiffness in nondestructive bending than the IIN-femur construct in either LM or CaCr bending, and the I/DCP-femur construct in LM bending. Only the I/DCP and 2DCP fixations were similar to intact bone in nondestructive-bending tests. In addition, the 2DCP-femur construct had greater structural and gap torsional stiffness than the I/DCP-femur construct, and greater gap torsional stiffness than the IIN-femur construct. However, all of the fixation methods tested, including the 2DCP-femur construct, had lower structural stiffness in torsional loading compared with intact bone. No significant differences in structural stiffness were found between intact bones and femur constructs tested nondestructively in compression. In resistance to LM bending to failure, the 2DCP-femur construct was superior to the IIN-femur construct, yet similar to the I/DCP-femur construct. Also, evaluation of yield and failure loads revealed no significant differences between intact bone and any of the femur constructs tested to failure in LM bending. Conclusions: In general, the 2DCP-femur construct provided superior strength and stiffness compared with the IIN and I/DCP-femur constructs under bending and torsion. Conclusions: Double plating of diaphyseal comminuted femoral fractures in immature horses may be the best method of repair, because in general, it provides the greatest strength and stiffness in bending and torsion.
Copyright 2001 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Publication Date: 2001-03-07 PubMed ID: 11230773DOI: 10.1053/jvet.2001.21396Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study conducts thorough biomechanical testing to compare different methods of stabilizing femur fractures in young horses. It concludes that ‘double-plating’, a specific fixation method, was most effective in providing strength and stiffness under testing conditions.
Experimental Design and Methods:
- The researchers used 34 immature horse femurs, randomly categorized into 5 test groups: interlocking intramedullary nail (IIN), IIN with cranial dynamic compression plate (I/DCP), two dynamic compression plates (2DCP), intact femurs tested in lateromedial (LM) bending, and intact femurs tested in caudocranial (CaCr) bending.
- All test groups, except for the intact femur groups, underwent mid-diaphyseal ostectomies (1cm surgical removals).
- These femurs were then subjected to various types of biomechanical testing, including CaCr/LM bending, compression, torsion, and eventually bending to failure.
Results:
- The 2DCP femur construct showed greater structural stiffness in nondestructive bending compared to the IIN construct and the I/DCP construct in LM bending.
- Only the I/DCP and 2DCP fixations could match the intact bone in nondestructive bending tests.
- The 2DCP method also displayed greater structural and gap torsional stiffness than the I/DCP and IIN constructs.
- Nonetheless, all fixations tested, including 2DCP, were less sturdy in torsional loading compared with intact bone.
- No significant differences were found between intact bones and constructs when tested non-destructively in compression.
- In terms of resisting bending to failure, the 2DCP method outperformed the IIN fixation.
Conclusions:
- The 2DCP method generally provided superior strength and stiffness to the IIN and I/DCP constructs under bending and torsion.
- Yield and failure loads revealed no significant differences between intact bone and any of the femur constructs tested in bending to failure.
- Overall, the double-plating method of diaphyseal comminuted femoral fractures proved superior in immature horses, offering the most strength and stiffness in both bending and torsion.
Cite This Article
APA
Radcliffe RM, Lopez MJ, Turner TA, Watkins JP, Radcliffe CH, Markel MD.
(2001).
An in vitro biomechanical comparison of interlocking nail constructs and double plating for fixation of diaphyseal femur fractures in immature horses.
Vet Surg, 30(2), 179-190.
https://doi.org/10.1053/jvet.2001.21396 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Bone Nails / veterinary
- Bone Plates / veterinary
- Diaphyses / injuries
- Femoral Fractures / surgery
- Femoral Fractures / veterinary
- Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods
- Fracture Fixation, Internal / veterinary
- Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / veterinary
- Horses / injuries
- Random Allocation
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Ahmad RA, Aithal HP, Madhu DN, Amarpal, Kinjavdekar P, Pawde AM. Use of locking plate in combination with dynamic compression plate for repair of tibial fracture in a young horse. Iran J Vet Res 2017 Spring;18(2):138-141.
- Janicek JC, Carson WL, Wilson DA. Development of an in vitro three dimensional loading-measurement system for long bone fixation under multiple loading conditions: a technical description. J Orthop Surg Res 2007 Nov 24;2:21.
- Lang JJ, Li X, Micheler CM, Wilhelm NJ, Seidl F, Schwaiger BJ, Barnewitz D, von Eisenhart-Rothe R, Grosse CU, Burgkart R. Numerical evaluation of internal femur osteosynthesis based on a biomechanical model of the loading in the proximal equine hindlimb. BMC Vet Res 2024 May 10;20(1):188.
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