title: [BIOMECHANICS STUDY ON THREE-DIMENSIONAL EXTERNAL FIXATOR FOR OSTEOPOROTIC FRACTURE].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the mechanical stability of the three-dimensional (3-D) external fixator for osteoporotic fracture so as to provide the biomechanical basis for clinical application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five fresh frozen adult tibial specimens were selected to rapidly prepare the extracorporal tibia osteoporotic fracture models, and were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 15). Fractures were fixed with 3-D external fixators (3-D external fixators group), intramedullary nails (intramedullary nail group), and plate (plate group) respectively. Five specimens randomly from each group were used to do axial compression test, three-point bending test, and torsion test with microcomputer control electronic universal testing machine, then the mechanical parameters were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the axial compression test, the displacement of 3-D external fixator group and intramedullary nail group were shorter than plate group, showing significant differences (P < 0.05); but no significant difference was found between 3-D external fixator group and intramedullary nail group (P > 0.05). In the three-point bending test and torsion test, the deflection and the torsional angle of 3-D external fixator group and intramedullary nail group were smaller than plate group, showing significant differences (P < 0.05); but no significant difference was found between 3-D external fixator group and intramedullary nail group (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3-D external fixator can fix fracture three-dimensionally from multiple plane and it can offer strong fixing. It is biomechanically demonstrated to be suitable for osteoporotic fracture.
authors.forename: Zongchao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zegao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Zhenlong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D002102:Cadaver; D016267:External Fixators; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013977:Tibia; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing