title: Underneath the cerclage: an ex vivo study on the cerclage-bone interface mechanics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerclages regain interest due to a rising number of periprosthetic fractures. The contact distribution at the circumferential cerclage-bone interface is still unknown. Local interface pressure depends on the amount of contact area. Cortical damage at the interface would provoke cerclage loosening. Therefore, the contact area, the bone pressure along the interface and the cortical resistance underneath loaded cerclages were determined in an ex vivo model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human diaphyseal femoral bone was used with differing cross-sectional geometry. Bone contact points of fixed 1.5 mm wire and 1.7 mm cable cerclages were identified from axial radiographs. Pressure distribution at the cerclage-bone interface was recorded with a pressure-measuring film using a distraction setup with two cortical half shells. Bone shells with installed cerclages were separated with up to 400 N force and were subsequently analyzed histologically to detect cortical damage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both cerclage types exhibited a point contact fixation with non-loaded spanned zones in-between. Cables cover larger contact areas. Both cerclages exhibited an inhomogeneous interface pressure distribution depending on the bone surface geometry. Histology revealed intact cortical bone without cortical affection after loading of both cerclage types.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Point contact fixation of the cerclages installs non-loaded, spanned zones where the periosteum is not compressed, rendering a strangulation of the blood supply unlikely. Cortical bone withstands static concentric pressure produced by the cerclage. Cortical groove formation is attributed to instability under functional load and not to weakness of the cortex itself.
authors: AO Research Institute Davos, Clavadelerstrasse 8, 7270 Davos-Platz, Switzerland. mark.lenz@aofoundation.org
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Lenz
authors: Stephan Marcel
authors: SM
authors: Perren
authors: Boyko
authors: B
authors: Gueorguiev
authors: Robert Geoff
authors: RG
authors: Richards
authors: Fabian
authors: F
authors: Krause
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Fernandez Dell'Oca
authors: Dankward
authors: D
authors: Höntzsch
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Windolf
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001864:Bone Wires; D002102:Cadaver; D005269:Femur / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D057068:Periprosthetic Fractures / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011312:Pressure