Static strength evaluation of two modified unilateral external skeletal fixators |
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| Authors: | C W Dewey † D N Aron † T L Foutz‡ M A Marks S C Budsberg |
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| Institution: | *Department of Small Animal Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA;?Department of Anatomy and Radiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA;?Department of Agricultural Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA |
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| Abstract: | The relative static strengths of two modified unilateral external skeletal fixation configurations, intended for use in humeral and femoral fracture management, were compared with each other and with a type la (unilateral, uniplanar) and a type lb (unilateral, biplanar) configuration, using an in vitro model. The parameters of yield strength, ultimate (failure) strength and stiffness (slope) were measured for each of the four configurations in the disruptive modes of axial compression, craniocaudal bending and lateromedial bending. The two modified unilateral configurations (models 3 and 4) were biomechanically superior to the type la configuration (model 1) for all parameters, when loaded in axial compression and craniocaudal bending. Model 3 was stronger than the type lb (model 2) configuration for all parameters when loaded in axial compression. There were no significant differences among the models with lateromedial bending loads, except for the parameter of stiffness. The results of this study suggest that the two modified unilateral configurations are biomechanically superior to the type la fixator configuration. The results also suggest that the modified unilateral configurations equal or exceed the biplanar configuration (model 2) in stiffness when loaded in axial compression. |
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