title: A biomechanical study of wire fixation.
abstract: A biomechanical study of wire fixation was performed using 18-gauge stainless steel wire on an Instron universal testing machine. Six groups of wires were tested--an intact piece of wire (control), a wire bent to a right angle five times, a simple knot, a square knot, a loop knot and a twist knot. The tensile load-to-failure value for each wire was recorded. The intact wire broke at a mean load of 67 kg. The wires with the bend, the simple knot and the square knot all broke at similar loads. Those wires with a knot broke at the knot. The loop and the twist knots pulled apart at much lower loads. These results indicate that bending the wire does not weaken it substantially, but kinking may initiate the site of breakage. The square knot is the strongest knot; the loop and twist knots are not recommended if the wire is to be under tension.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001864:Bone Wires / Q000592:standards; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices / Q000592:standards; D013314:Stress, Mechanical