Effect of Different Distal Fixation Augmentation Methods on the Pullout Strength of Fassier-Duval Telescoping Rods

Antegrade telescoping rods have been introduced for use in pediatric patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) to decrease the incidence of long-bone fractures and to correct and prevent deformities. Recent studies have documented failures of telescoping intramedullary rods due to inadequate distal fixation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pullout strength of distal fixation of the telescoping rod with and without synthetic calcium phosphate or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) augmentation. Four sets of 6 telescoping distal fixation rods were fixed according to standard insertion technique into an open-cell rigid-foam synthetic bone block simulating OI bone. The groups tested were as follows: control (no augmentation), 0.75 mL of PMMA-augmented, 0.75 mL of PMMA-rescued (stripped distal fixation, then resecured after PMMA augmentation), and 0.75 mL of bioabsorbable-calcium phosphate (CP)-augmented. All rods were tested to failure. The peak load was recorded. Average pullout strengths were as follows: control, 20±6.6 N; PMMA, 125±16.8 N; PMMA-rescued, 137±11.9 N; bioabsorbable-CP, 81±10.3 N. All augmented groups had significantly higher pullout strength compared with the control (P<.001). The PMMA and PMMA-rescued groups failed at the PMMA/bone interface, whereas the bioabsorbable-CP group failed at the cement/rod interface. All augmented constructs improved pullout strength by at least 400% compared with the control. Bioabsorbable cement may be less detrimental to the physis if pullout still occurs despite augmentation due to its mode of failure. This study provides biomechanical evidence to support the further in vivo investigation of either PMMA or bioabsorbable cement augmentation to improve pullout strength of distal telescoping rod fixation.