Ultrasonometry evaluation of axial compression osteosinthesis. An experimental study.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the ultrasound propagation velocity (UV) through a tibial transverse osteotomy in sheep, before and after the fixation with a DCP plate.


METHODS
Ten assemblies of a DCP plate with the diaphyseal segment of tibiae, in which a transverse osteotomy was made, were used. Both coronal and sagittal transverse and the axial UV were measured, first with the intact bone assembled with the plate and then with the uncompressed and compressed osteotomy; statistical comparisons were made at the 1% (p<0.01) level of significance.


RESULTS
Compared with the intact bone assembly, axial UV significantly decreased with the addition of the osteotomy and significantly increased with compression, presenting the same behavior for the other modalities, although not significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
In accordance with the literature data on the ultrasonometric evaluation of fracture healing, underwater UV measurement was able to demonstrate the efficiency of DCP plate fixation. The authors conclude that the method has a potential for clinical application in the postoperative follow-up of DCP plate osteosinthesis, with a capability to demonstrate when it becomes ineffective. Laboratory investigation.
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo - Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Márcio Takey
MT
Bezuti
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo - Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Luiz Garcia
LG
Mandarano
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo - Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Giuliano
G
Barbieri
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo - Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Nilton
N
Mazzer
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo - Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Cláudio Henrique
CH
Barbieri
Acoustics; Bone and bones; Bone plates; Ultrasonics