Biomechanical testing of a hybrid locking plate fixation of equine sesamoid osteotomies.

The study compared the effectiveness of a hybrid locking compression plate (LCP) and a screw technique in repairing bone fractures in horse limbs. Their findings suggest that the LCP technique could potentially provide better fracture stability and healing for this type of injury.

Introduction and Methods

• This research sought to compare two orthopedic procedures used in equine medicine – a hybrid locking compression plate (LCP) method and a compression screw technique.
• The objective behind this comparison was to identify which technique provided better biomechanical properties as a treatment for bone fractures, specifically, transverse mid-body proximal sesamoid bone fractures.
• To conduct the study, the researchers used ten forelimbs of horses obtained from an abattoir.
• Each bone was subsequently broken or “osteotomized” transversely. The limbs were then randomly assigned to either the hybrid LCP or the screw technique for repair.
• The test limb was then subjected to axial loading in a single cycle until a failure point was reached.

Results and Analysis

• It was noted that the amount of force required to cause a failure point for limbs repaired with the hybrid LCP (4968 N ± 2167) was significantly higher than that for the screw technique (3009 N ± 1091).
• This difference, which was statistically significant (p<0.01), suggested that the hybrid LCP method potentially provided greater stability and fracture resistance.
• A more detailed evaluation, including gross and radiographic examinations, identified the most common failure point – a comminuted fracture of the apical fragment of the proximal sesamoid bone.

Conclusion

• The study concludes that, based on these results, the LCP technique has potential to achieve better fracture stability and healing for mid-body fractures of the proximal sesamoid bone in horses.
• Nevertheless, the researchers acknowledge that further examinations, such as fatigue resistance testing, are necessary to fully establish the LCP method as a superior treatment option for this type of fracture.