title: Comparison of three fixations for tibial plateau fractures by biomechanical study and radiographic observation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the fixation effects of three fixation devices for tibial plateau fracture (AO/OTA classification 41 A1).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen human cadaver tibial specimens were randomly divided into four groups. An A1 fracture model was established. The fractures were subsequently fixed by axial controlled intramedullary nail, external fixation and steel plate fixation. Each specimen was subjected to axial compression, torsion test and three-point bending test. Then a rat model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of these three fixations by evaluation of callus formation time and healing time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that the axial controlled intramedullary nail group obtained superior biomechanical properties of resistance ability of bending, torsional and axial compressive, compared with external fixation and steel plate group. In animal experiments, the axial controlled intramedullary nail group had a significant shorter callus occurrence and healing time than steel plate and external fixator group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The axial controlled intramedullary nail fixation has a superior biomechanical characteristic and fixation effect for tibial plateau fractures than steel plate and external fixator.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Central Hospital of Yiwu City, Yiwu, Zhejiang Province 322000, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department 8, Institute of Research Surgery, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China. Electronic address: guodongliufh@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Guo-Dong
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command, Chengdu, Sichuan 610083, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Jishuitan Hospital of Beijing, Beijing 100000, China.
authors.forename: Xie-Yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Traumatic Center, Institute of Research Surgery, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Digitized Medicine, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors.forename: Li-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D002102:Cadaver; D016267:External Fixators; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Axial controlled intramedullary nail; External fixation; Steel plate fixation