title: Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis: a biomechanical analysis of the rotational stability of the Biomet Ankle Arthrodesis Nail.
abstract: We hypothesized that the posterior-to-anterior (PA) calcaneal interlocking screw of the Biomet Ankle Arthrodesis Nail would increase rotational stability secondary to increased bone purchase compared with the standard lateral-to-medial (transverse) screw. Each of 10 fresh human cadaver lower limbs (five matched pairs) were stabilized with a nail inserted retrograde through the calcaneus, talus, and tibia according to standard technique. One limb of each pair was fixed with a transverse calcaneal screw; the contralateral limb, with a PA calcaneal screw. Each limb was then subjected to torsional testing on an MTS Mini Bionix load frame. The PA screw construct was significantly stiffer than the transverse screw construct: 1.96 and 1.41 Nm/E, respectively (P < 0.036).
authors.affiliation: Union Memorial Orthopaedics, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001858:Bone Nails; D001863:Bone Screws; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans