title: Biomechanical analysis of acromioclavicular joint dislocation treated with clavicle hook plates in different lengths.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clavicle hook plates are frequently used in clinical orthopaedics to treat acromioclavicular joint dislocation. However, patients often exhibit acromion osteolysis and per-implant fracture after undergoing hook plate fixation. With the intent of avoiding future complications or fixation failure after clavicle hook plate fixation, we used finite element analysis (FEA) to investigate the biomechanics of clavicle hook plates of different materials and sizes when used in treating acromioclavicular joint dislocation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using finite element analysis, this study constructed a model comprising four parts: clavicle, acromion, clavicle hook plate and screws, and used the model to simulate implanting different types of clavicle hook plates in patients with acromioclavicular joint dislocation. Then, the biomechanics of stainless steel and titanium alloy clavicle hook plates containing either six or eight screw holes were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that using a longer clavicle hook plate decreased the stress value in the clavicle, and mitigated the force that clavicle hook plates exert on the acromion. Using a clavicle hook plate material characterized by a smaller Young's modulus caused a slight increase in the stress on the clavicle. However, the external force the material imposed on the acromion was less than the force exerted on the clavicle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study can serve as a reference to help orthopaedic surgeons select clavicle hook plates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung City, Taiwan.|Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kui-Chou
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Chou
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung City, Taiwan. 298f@vghtc.gov.tw.|Department of Biotechnology, Hung Kuang University, Taichung City, Taiwan. 298f@vghtc.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Sect. 4, Taichung City, Taiwan. kcsu@vghtc.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Kuo-Chih
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000173:Acromioclavicular Joint / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000174:Acromion / Q000601:surgery; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002968:Clavicle / Q000601:surgery; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Acromioclavicular joint dislocation; Biomechanics; Clavicle hook plate; Finite element analysis