title: Biomechanical comparison of lag screw versus self-drilling screw fixation of oblique metatarsal osteotomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several fixation methods for a Weil metatarsal osteotomy have been proposed. Lag screw fixation has been described as the preferred fixation technique. The self-drilling screw has been introduced and can be used for fixation of the Weil osteotomy. The current study compared self-drilling screws with lag screw fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Weil metatarsal osteotomy was performed on the second, third, and fourth metatarsals of five matched pairs of fresh frozen cadaver feet. The feet of each pair were randomly assigned ical to fixation with either a 2.0-mm cortical lag screw or a 2.0-mm self-drilling screw. The second metatarsals were stressed using cantilever bending. The third and fourth metatarsals were stressed under a shear force. Yield load, deformation at yield load, structural stiffness, and energy stored at yield load were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) noted. However, there was a trend toward greater biomechanical stability with the lag screw.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no significant differences in the stability of fixation of the self-drilling screw and lag screw. There was a trend toward the lag screw fixation being more stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical significance of this trend is uncertain but suggests there is not a large difference between the two methods of fixation.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 9436, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA. brien.rabenhorst@ttuhsc.edu
authors: Brien M
authors: BM
authors: Rabenhorst
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Smith
authors: C Roger
authors: CR
authors: James
authors: Jerry S
authors: JS
authors: Grimes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001863:Bone Screws; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*