title: Biomechanical Properties of Different Fixation Techniques for Posterior Cruciate Ligament Avulsion Fractures.
abstract: To analyze the ultimate failure load, yield load, stiffness, and cyclic elongation of 4 different fixation techniques for posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures under cyclic loading and load-to-failure conditions.
  
  
  
  In 40 porcine knees, a standardized bony avulsion of the posterior cruciate ligament was generated. The osseous avulsion was fixed by the following techniques through an open approach: (1) direct anterograde screw fixation (3.5 mm with washer), (2) retrograde screw fixation (3.5 mm with washer), (3) cortical suspension button fixation (with No. 2 braided suture), and (4) direct suture cerclage (with No. 2 braided suture). The constructs were cyclically loaded 500 times (10 to 100 N) to measure the maximum elongation. Subsequently, loading to failure was performed, and stiffness, yield load, and maximum load were measured. A 1-way analysis-of-variance test was performed with significance set at P < .05.
  
  
  
  Button fixation resulted in lower elongation (1.25 ± 0.27 mm) than anterograde screw fixation (2.17 ± 0.74 mm, P = .0058) and the cerclage technique (2.02 ± 0.24 mm, P = .0290). The cerclage technique showed a lower yield load (493.55 ± 88.86 N) than anterograde screw fixation (720.39 ± 139.0 N, P = .0012) and retrograde screw fixation (668.58 ± 147.59 N, P = .0145); it also had lower stiffness and maximum load values (51.2 ± 6.11 N/mm and 631.22 ± 101.22 N, respectively) than the anterograde screw fixation technique (65.6 ± 12.74 N/mm, P = .041, for stiffness and 817.5 ± 145.9 N, P = .008, for maximum load). None of the other results were significantly different (P > .05).
  
  
  
  The cortical suspension button and retrograde screw fixation techniques showed comparable structural properties to the direct screw fixation technique. The raw structural properties of suture cerclage still seem eligible enough to consider using this technique for fixation.
  
  
  
  In this in vitro model, all techniques appear to constitute a biomechanically stable alternative to traditional anterograde screw fixation. In contrast to anterograde screw fixation, these techniques can be performed minimally invasively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Westphalian Wilhelms University Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domnick
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Westphalian Wilhelms University Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kösters
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Westphalian Wilhelms University Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Westphalian Wilhelms University Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Raschke
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin Luther Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention, UMIT/ISAG, Hall in Tirol, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Westphalian Wilhelms University Muenster, Muenster, Germany. Electronic address: mirco.herbort@uni-muenster.de.
authors.forename: Mirco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herbort
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D000071562:Fractures, Avulsion / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008422:Materials Testing; D023421:Models, Animal; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013552:Swine