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Analysis of K-Wire and Olive Wire in Ilizarov Apparatus: A Comparative Study
Nilesh Ghongade1, Namrata Bhokare2, Bhaskar B Gardas1
1Mechanical Engineering Department, M.H. Saboo Siddik College of Engineering, 8, Saboo Siddik Polytechnic Road, New Nagpada, Byculla, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400008 India.
Background:
Orthopedic fixators depend on mechanical characteristics like stiffness and firmness. The Ilizarov Apparatus (IA) is a common surgical management approach to restructure the bone fractures. IA includes two wires, specifically K-wire and olive wire, to treat the fractures.
Methods:
The functions of IA using K-wire and olive wire have been explored with experimental and finite element approach. To describe the stability of fixation and stiffness of olive wire and K-wire, the mechanical performance of the wires was evaluated experimentally as well as numerically by ANSYS software.
Results:
The results obtained from the olive wire experimental setup with applied loads of 50 to 100 N, showed stiffnesses ranging from 13.85 to 14.58 N/mm and displacements ranging from 3.61 to 6.86 mm. Also, in analytical evaluation, the obtained stiffness ranges from 14.36 to 14.34 N/mm for loads of 50-100 N with a displacement of 3.48-6.97 mm.
Conclusions:
A two-ring olive wire was found to be stiffer than a two-ring K-wire fixator under the same loading conditions. The goal of this study is to help orthopedic specialists assess the stiffness and stability of IA setups with olive and K-wires.
