Biomechanical evaluation of cerclage fixation constructs in a 3-dimensionally printed canine tibial long-oblique...

To compare the biomechanical performance of cerclage fixation constructs in a standardized 3-D-printed canine tibial long-oblique fracture model.

3 fixation constructs-stainless steel wire cerclage (SSW), FiberWire cerclage (FW), and paraosseous clamp-cerclage stabilization (PCCS)-were compared in a standardized 3-D-printed canine tibial long-oblique fracture model. A standardized mid-diaphyseal long-oblique fracture was created in each specimen. Axial compression testing was performed until failure. Loads required to reach predefined displacement levels (1, 2, and 3 mm), maximum failure load, and failure mode were recorded. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with the Tukey post hoc test.

21 tibial models (7/group) were evaluated. At all displacement levels, the FW group required significantly lower loads than both the SSW and PCCS groups, whereas no significant difference was observed between the SSW and PCCS groups. Mean loads at 1 mm displacement were 194.5 ± 32.2 N (SSW), 94.4 ± 21.0 N (FW), and 207.3 ± 64.0 N (PCCS). Maximum failure load was highest in the FW group (974.3 ± 77.0 N), followed by the PCCS group (879.0 ± 66.6 N) and SSW group (567.6 ± 63.2 N).

PCCS demonstrated resistance to axial compression comparable to SSW fixation, whereas FW cerclage demonstrated the highest maximum failure load.

These findings provide biomechanical information that may assist surgeons in selecting cerclage fixation methods for long-oblique tibial fractures in dogs.