Comparison of different plate constructs in a femoral gap fracture model: An “In-silico” biomechanical study.
Serra Aguado CI1, Ibáñez M2, Serrano T1, Fernández-Salesa N*1, Soler C1, Doméneq L2
1Hospital Veterinario UCV. Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Facutad de Veterinaria y Ciencias Experimentales Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir., Valencia, Spain, 2Departamento de Matemáticas, Física y Ciencias Tecnológicas, Universidad cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities., Valencia, Spain.
Objectives:
Femoral fractures constitute 20-25% of all fractures and 45% of long bone fractures, with a notable percentage being comminuted. Among stabilization systems, orthogonal locking plates have recently proven effective. However, biomechanical studies on these applications are limited.
This study investigates the influence of adding a second orthogonal plate on the caudal or cranial femoral surface on the mechanical properties of a femoral gap fracture model.
Methods:
An “in-silico” femoral gap fracture model was designed, with three different stabilization methods: single plate on the lateral surface (Group A), two plates on the lateral and cranial surfaces (Group B), and two plates on the lateral and caudal surfaces (Group C). Three mechanical tests were performed for each construct; compression, torsion, and a combination of compression and torsion. For each mechanical test, the displacement, load, stress, and stress-strain distribution were determined.
Results:
Von Mises stresses and stress-strain distribution observed during compression were highest when the orthogonal plates were placed on the lateral and caudal femoral surfaces (Group C). In contrast, the von Mises stresses observed during torsion, and combination of torsion and compression, were highest when the orthogonal plates were fixed on the lateral and cranial femoral surface (Group B).
Conclusions:
Orthogonal plate systems showed more robust mechanical properties than single plate systems in all types of forces applied. In compression load, the second plate on the caudal surface showed a higher stiffness profile. However, in torsion and torsion-compression forces, the system with a second plate on the cranial surface showed higher stiffness.