TY - JOUR
T1 - Biomechanical characteristics of rib fracture fixation systems
AU - Prins, Jonne T.H.
AU - Van Wijck, Suzanne F.M.
AU - Leeflang, Sander A.
AU - Kleinrensink, Gert Jan
AU - Lottenberg, Lawrence
AU - de la Santa Barajas, Pablo Moreno
AU - Van Huijstee, Pieter J.
AU - Vermeulen, Jefrey
AU - Verhofstad, Michael H.J.
AU - Zadpoor, Amir A.
AU - Wijffels, Mathieu M.E.
AU - Van Lieshout, Esther M.M.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Background: The primary aim of this study was to determine and compare the biomechanical properties of a fractured or intact rib after implant fixation on an embalmed thorax. Methods: Five systems were fixated on the bilateral fractured or intact (randomly allocated) 6th to 10th rib of five post-mortem embalmed human specimens. Each rib underwent a four-point bending test to determine the bending structural stiffness (Newton per m2), load to failure (Newton), failure mode, and the relative difference in bending structural stiffness and load to failure as compared to a non-fixated intact rib. Findings: As compared to a non-fixated intact rib, the relative difference in stiffness of a fixated intact rib ranged from −0.14 (standard deviation [SD], 0.10) to 0.53 (SD 0.35) and for a fixated fractured rib from −0.88 (SD 0.08) to 0.17 (SD 0.50). The most common failure mode was a new fracture at the most anterior drill hole for the plate and screw systems and a new fracture within the anterior portion of the implant for the clamping systems. Interpretation: The current fixation systems differ in their design, mode of action, and biomechanical properties. Differences in biomechanical properties such as stiffness and load to failure especially apply to fractured ribs. Insight in the differences between the systems might guide more specific implant selection and increase the surgeon's awareness for localizing hardware complaints or failure.
AB - Background: The primary aim of this study was to determine and compare the biomechanical properties of a fractured or intact rib after implant fixation on an embalmed thorax. Methods: Five systems were fixated on the bilateral fractured or intact (randomly allocated) 6th to 10th rib of five post-mortem embalmed human specimens. Each rib underwent a four-point bending test to determine the bending structural stiffness (Newton per m2), load to failure (Newton), failure mode, and the relative difference in bending structural stiffness and load to failure as compared to a non-fixated intact rib. Findings: As compared to a non-fixated intact rib, the relative difference in stiffness of a fixated intact rib ranged from −0.14 (standard deviation [SD], 0.10) to 0.53 (SD 0.35) and for a fixated fractured rib from −0.88 (SD 0.08) to 0.17 (SD 0.50). The most common failure mode was a new fracture at the most anterior drill hole for the plate and screw systems and a new fracture within the anterior portion of the implant for the clamping systems. Interpretation: The current fixation systems differ in their design, mode of action, and biomechanical properties. Differences in biomechanical properties such as stiffness and load to failure especially apply to fractured ribs. Insight in the differences between the systems might guide more specific implant selection and increase the surgeon's awareness for localizing hardware complaints or failure.
KW - Biomechanics
KW - Fixation system
KW - Implant
KW - Rib fracture
KW - Surgical stabilization of rib fractures
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145658166&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.105870
DO - 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.105870
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85145658166
SN - 0268-0033
VL - 102
JO - Clinical Biomechanics
JF - Clinical Biomechanics
M1 - 105870
ER -