title: Distraction osteogenesis device to estimate the axial stiffness of the callus in Vivo.
abstract: Knowing the evolution of callus stiffness is very important in distraction osteogenesis and bone healing. It allows the characterization of the bone maturation process and the assessment of the moment to retire the fixator. A new distractor device that monitors the callus axial stiffness is presented in this study. It quantifies the callus stiffness during the bone transport process with some advantages over previous methods to assess stiffness during simple distraction and bone healing. This device avoids a misalignment between bone segments, uses real load conditions, monitors forces continuously, does not involve radiation for patients, and allows the study of the complete distraction process, i.e., the distraction and consolidation phases. The device was calibrated in vitro simulating different real bone load conditions depending on the stage of the process. The stiffness of the callus could be estimated for values between 4.2 N/mm and 9066.8 N/mm. The average relative error in measurements carried out in in vitro calibration tests was 7.8% during the distraction phase and 9.5% during the consolidation phase. These results improve the accuracy and increase the callus stiffness range of estimation with respect to other devices in the literature. In addition, the device was used successfully in vivo in a preliminary experiment.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing, University of Seville, ETSI, Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092-Seville, Spain. Electronic address: juanmora@us.es.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mora-Macías
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing, University of Seville, ETSI, Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092-Seville, Spain. Electronic address: erreina@us.es.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Reina-Romo
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing, University of Seville, ETSI, Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092-Seville, Spain. Electronic address: jaime@us.es.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Domínguez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002146:Bony Callus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002138:Calibration; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D023421:Models, Animal; D008954:Models, Biological; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012756:Sheep
keywords: Bone transport; Calibration; Callus stiffness; Distraction osteogenesis; Medical device