Holding power of cortical screws after power tapping and hand tapping.

The research studied the holding power of screws in horse bones after tapping—a process that prepares the insertion point for the screw—was done either manually or with a powered drill. The study found no significant difference in the holding strength of either screw size between holes tapped by hand and those tapped with power tools.

Research Objective and Methodology

• The research aimed to understand whether the method of tapping —hand tapping versus using a power drill—had any impact on the holding power of cortical screws in equine third metacarpal bones.
• The team drilled and tapped holes for 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm cortical screws in pairs of metacarpal bones. They then inserted screws into these holes and subjected them to extraction forces until failure of the bone threads or the screws themselves occurred.

Findings of the Research

• The primary finding of the study was that there was no significant difference in the holding power of either size of the cortical screw, regardless of whether the hole was tapped by hand or using a powered drill.
• This suggests that the method of tapping does not impact the effectiveness of the screw in holding the bone, at least in terms of its ability to withstand extraction forces.
• This is significant as it can influence decisions on whether to use hand or power tools in surgical procedures involving the implantation of screws into bone. If there is no difference in outcome, the choice can be made on factors such as surgeon’s preference, availability of tools, and overarching surgical strategy.