[Contact surfaces, compressive forces and pressure distribution in osteosynthesis. Model studies using...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic biomechanics
• Surgical implant technology

Context:

• Assessing stress distribution in bone fracture fixation is crucial for stability.
• Previous methods lacked precision in measuring forces across fracture gaps.
• Pressure-sensitive foil offers a novel approach to quantifying intraoperative forces.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of pressure-sensitive foil in measuring stress at fracture and osteotomy sites.
• To compare the biomechanical performance of straight and pre-bent fixation plates.
• To determine optimal surgical techniques for achieving stable fracture healing.

Summary:

• A novel pressure-sensitive foil was used to analyze stress distribution in synthetic bone models with self-compressing plates.
• Straight plates exhibited minimal force and pressure, leading to insufficient stability.
• Pre-bent plates showed inhomogeneous pressure, with optimal results achieved by applying compression near the fracture site, yielding 1700 N force and 90% contact area.
• Screw tightening torque up to 2.5 Nm increased force and pressure isometrically, while converging screws reduced effectiveness.

Impact:

• Provides precise, quantitative data on stress distribution during fracture fixation.
• Identifies optimal plate bending and screw placement strategies for enhanced surgical stability.
• Advances understanding of biomechanical principles in orthopedic surgery, potentially improving patient outcomes.