title: Effect of wire tension on stiffness of tensioned fine wires in external fixation: a mechanical study.
abstract: To determine the effect of changes in magnitude of transfixion wire tension on stiffness of fine-wire external-fixation load deformation, we compared results obtained with different wire tensions (50-140 kg) under identical conditions of central axial compression, medial compression-bending, posterior compression-bending, posteromedial compression-bending, and torsion. Stiffness values were calculated from the load-deformation and torque-angle curves. Tension of 140 kg provided the most stiffness, and there was a trend toward increasing overall stiffness with increasing wire tension. The 1.8-mm wires should be tensioned to at least 110 kg in most cases of fine-wire external fixation; compared with all tensions less than 110 kg, this tension provides significantly more mechanical stability in all loading modes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Antoci
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Voor
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Antoci
authors.forename: Craig S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D001864:Bone Wires; D016267:External Fixators; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D019563:Mechanics; D013314:Stress, Mechanical