title: Biomechanical analysis of five fixation techniques used in glenohumeral arthrodesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study is to compare five fixation techniques in shoulder fusion. The most common complications resulting from shoulder fusion, non-union and unacceptable arm position, might reflect a failure to achieve rigid fixation during the surgical procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five shoulder fusions were carried out on human cadaveric specimens using the following techniques: screw fixation, external fixation, external fixation supplemented with screw fixation, single plate fixation and double plate fixation. Each specimen was tested on a servohydraulic machine to determine stiffness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference in bending and torsional stiffness between all five fixation techniques. Normalized bending (B) and torsional stiffness (T), in descending order, were: double plate (B = 1.00, T = 1.00), single plate (B = 0.77, T = 0.89), external fixation with screws (B = 0.68, T = 0.74), external fixation alone (B = 0.40, T = 0.53), and screws alone (B = 0.13, T = 0.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of the most common complications resulting from shoulder fusion might be minimized if these biomechanical findings are applied to surgical decision making.
authors: Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, The University of New South Wales, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. bsmiller@umich.edu
authors: Bruce S
authors: BS
authors: Miller
authors: Wade P
authors: WP
authors: Harper
authors: R Mark
authors: RM
authors: Gillies
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: Sonnabend
authors: William R
authors: WR
authors: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*