title: Pullout strength of monocortical and bicortical screws in metaphyseal and diaphyseal regions of the canine humerus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Monocortical screws are commonly employed in locking plate fixation, but specific recommendations for their placement are lacking and use of short monocortical screws in metaphyseal bone may be contraindicated. Objectives of this study were to evaluate axial pullout strength of two different lengths of monocortical screws placed in various regions of the canine humerus compared to bicortical screws, and to derive cortical thickness and bone density values for those regions using quantitative computed tomography analysis (QCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The QCT analysis was performed on 36 cadaveric canine humeri for six regions of interest (ROI). A bicortical, short monocortical, or 50% transcortical 3.5 mm screw was implanted in each ROI and axial pullout testing was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bicortical screws were stronger than monocortical screws in all ROI except the lateral epicondylar crest. Short monocortical metaphyseal screws were weaker than those placed in other regions. The 50% transcortical screws were stronger than the short monocortical screws in the condyle. A linear relationship between screw length and pullout strength was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cortical thickness and bone density measurements were obtained from multiple regions of the canine humerus using QCT. Use of short monocortical screws may contribute to failure of locking plate fixation of humeral fractures, especially when placed in the condyle. When bicortical screw placement is not possible, maximizing monocortical screw length may optimize fixation stability for distal humeral fractures.
authors.affiliation: Denty Paul Vaughn, DVM MSPH BS, Mississippi State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 240 Wise Center Dr., Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA, Phone: +1 662 325 3432, E-mail: pvaughn@cvm.msstate.edu or paulvaughnjr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Denty Paul
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.forename: Jason Alan
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Syrcle
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Steven H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: Jennifer Michele
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gambino
authors.forename: Russell L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000662:veterinary; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000662:veterinary*; D018483:Diaphyses; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000662:veterinary; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Canine humerus; bone mineral density; monocortical screw fixation; quantitative computed tomography; screw pullout strength