Novel external fixation fracture method with circular locking mechanism compared with the application of dynamic axial external fixator on experimental tibial model ensures better stability in bending and favourable performance in dynamic loads.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of a novel tibial external bone fracture fixator with a circular locking mechanism with standard dynamic axial external fixator.


METHODS
In order to investigate the prototype usability in experimental conditions, a biomechanical study was performed in which 42 polyacetal tubes set in 14 experimental groups and subgroups represented the fractured tibia that were fixed by a standard dynamic axial external fixator and a novel fixator. Displacements under static and dynamic loads were measured, with static ones corresponding to three directions of fragment movement and dynamic simulating the human gait. Analysis was performed in SPSS v13, with significance set at P<0.05.


RESULTS
The novel fixator showed biomechanical superiority in "fragments apart" study groups, while the standard dynamic axial external fixator outperformed the novel one in the situations of bending with "fragments in contact" study groups. There were no significant differences in dynamic load, despite better numerical result of the novel fixator.


CONCLUSIONS
The novel fixator is expectedly faster applicable and offers greater extent of external fixation flexibility. Further developments of this model thus seems justified in both construction improvement and on clinical application.
University Hospital Centre Split, Surgery Clinic, Department of Traumatology, Split, Croatia. Electronic address: arsen.pavic@gmail.com.
Arsen
A
Pavic
Janos
J
Kodvanj
Srecko
S
Sabalic
Fabijan
F
Cukelj
Bore
B
Bakota
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D017523:Croatia; D004867:Equipment Design; D016267:External Fixators; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*
Biomechanics; Croatia; Cyclic load; Dynamic axial external fixator; Dynamic load; External fixator; Novel external fixator; Static load; Tibial fracture