Arthrodesis of the equine proximal interphalangeal joint: a biomechanical comparison of 3-hole 4.5 mm locking compression plate and 3-hole 4.5 mm narrow dynamic compression plate, with two transarticular 5.5 mm cortex screws.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the biomechanical characteristics of 2 arthrodesis techniques for the equine proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) using either a 3-hole 4.5 mm locking compression plate (LCP) or 3-hole 4.5 mm narrow dynamic compression plate (DCP), both with 2 transarticular 5.5 mm cortex screws.


METHODS
Experimental.


METHODS
Cadaveric adult equine forelimbs (*n=6 pairs).


METHODS
For each forelimb pair, 1 limb was randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups and the contralateral limb by default to the other treatment group. Construct stiffness, gap formation across the PIP joint, and rotation about the PIP joint were determined for each construct before cyclic axial loading and after each of four, 5000 cycle loading regimens. After the 20,000 cycle axial loading regimen, each construct was loaded to failure.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in construct stiffness, gap formation, or sagittal plane rotation between the LCP and DCP treatment groups at any of the measured time points.


CONCLUSIONS
Biomechanically, fixation of the equine PIP joint with a 3-hole 4.5 mm LCP is equivalent to fixation with a 3-hole 4.5 mm narrow DCP under the test conditions used.
Department of Surgery, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. alzoppa@usp.br
André L V
AL
Zoppa
Brandon
B
Santoni
Christian M
CM
Puttlitz
Kayla
K
Cochran
Dean A
DA
Hendrickson
D000818:Animals; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000662:veterinary*; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000662:veterinary*; D014033:Toe Joint / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016474:Weight-Bearing