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Experimental study on biological damage in bone in vibrational drilling.
Khurshid Alam1, Muhammad Iqbal2, Jamal Umer3
1Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoud, Sultanate of Oman.
Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering
|September 28, 2020
Summary
Vibrational drilling of bone can cause cell damage, especially at high frequencies (>20 kHz) without cooling. Optimal bone drilling involves lower speeds and frequencies (<25 kHz) with cooling for safety and efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Biomedical engineering
- Surgical technology
Background:
- Bone drilling is crucial for fracture fixation but can cause irreversible tissue damage like osteonecrosis.
- Mechanical and thermal alterations during drilling pose risks to bone and surrounding tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify biological damage in bone tissue during vibrational drilling.
- To assess the impact of varying vibration levels (low and high) on bone during penetration.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of bone sections after drilling.
- Utilizing a range of vibrational frequencies and rotational speeds.
- Investigating the effect of saline cooling during the drilling process.
Main Results:
- Bone cell damage resulted from the combined effects of drill speed and vibration frequency.
- Higher frequencies (>20 kHz) without cooling led to increased bone cell damage.
- Cooling effectively minimized cell damage, particularly at shallower depths and lower drill speeds/frequencies.
Conclusions:
- Vibrational drilling at lower speeds and frequencies (<25 kHz) with cooling is recommended.
- This approach promotes safer and more efficient bone drilling procedures.
- Minimizing thermal and mechanical stress is key to preventing osteonecrosis during orthopedic procedures.

