Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
An Intramedullary Locking Nail for Standardized Fixation of Femur Osteotomies to Analyze Normal and Defective Bone Healing in Mice
Published on: November 13, 2016
Biomechanical investigation of an alternative concept to angular stable plating using conventional fixation hardware
Markus Windolf1, Kajetan Klos, Dirk Wähnert
1AO Research Institute Davos, AO Foundation, Clavadelerstrasse 8, Davos, Switzerland. markus.windolf@aofoundation.org
Background:
Angle-stable locking plates have improved the surgical management of fractures. However, locking implants are costly and removal can be difficult. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the biomechanical performance of a newly proposed crossed-screw concept ("Fence") utilizing conventional (non-locked) implants in comparison to conventional LC-DCP (limited contact dynamic compression plate) and LCP (locking compression plate) stabilization, in a human cadaveric diaphyseal gap model.
Methods:
In eight pairs of human cadaveric femora, one femur per pair was randomly assigned to receive a Fence construct with either elevated or non-elevated plate, while the contralateral femur received either an LCP or LC-DCP instrumentation. Fracture gap motion and fatigue performance under cyclic loading was evaluated successively in axial compression and in torsion. Results were statistically compared in a pairwise setting.
Results:
The elevated Fence constructs allowed significantly higher gap motion compared to the LCP instrumentations (axial compression: p
Conclusions:
Even though accentuated fracture gap motion became obvious, the "Fence" technique is considered an alternative to cost-intensive locking-head devices. The concept can be of interest in cases were angle-stable implants are unavailable and can lead to new strategies in implant design.
