A clinical, radiographic, and cost comparison of cerclage techniques: wires vs cables.
The cerclage technique is used to secure femoral fractures, allografts, and plates. It is not clear whether wires or cables are better suited for this technique. A retrospective radiographic review of the 6,460 total hip arthroplasties done between 1986 and 2003 was performed. Wires/cables were used in 249 hips. It was found that one cable was broken (0.92%) compared with 11 wires (1.72%) (P < .5373). It was found that there was no statistical difference in Harris hip function or pain scores between patients with wires and those with cables or between those with broken wires/cables and those without broken wires/cables. The Luque wires, which cost 29.79 US dollars each, performed equally to the cables, which cost 275.40 US dollars each, suggesting that wiring may be the preferred cerclage technique.
Ritter
Merrill A
MA
Center for Hip and Knee Surgery, St Francis Hospital, Mooresville, Mooresville, IN 46158, USA.
Lutgring
Joseph D
JD
Davis
Kenneth E
KE
Berend
Michael E
ME
Meding
John B
JB
D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D001864:Bone Wires; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies