title: Mechanical analysis of the healing of different osteotomies fixed externally.
abstract: Under standard conditions the left tibia was osteotomised in nine sheep. The osteotomy was transverse in six, and oblique in three. The osteotomies were fixated using a strain-gauge-monitored unilateral external fixator. The fixation was rigid in three sheep with a transverse osteotomy (group 1) and also in three sheep with an oblique osteotomy (group 2). The fixation was dynamic in three sheep with a transverse osteotomy (group 3) using a roller-bearing mechanism allowing 1 mm of axial displacement. The bone callus stiffness increased progressively with time. One month after osteotomy the load force through the fixator in groups 1 and 2 was more than 20%, whereas the equivalent load force in group 3 was only about 5%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Avda Pio XII sn, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forriol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D010027:Osteotomy; D012756:Sheep; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing