title: A clinical, radiographic, and cost comparison of cerclage techniques: wires vs cables.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Hip and Knee Surgery, St Francis Hospital, Mooresville, Mooresville, IN 46158, USA.
authors.forename: Merrill A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lutgring
authors.forename: Kenneth E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Berend
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Meding
mesh_terms: 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