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Dickens AJ, Salas C, Rise L, Murray-Krezan C, Taha MR, DeCoster TA, Gehlert RJ. Titanium mesh as a low-profile alternative for tension-band augmentation in patella fracture fixation: A biomechanical study. Injury 2015; 46:1001-6. [PMID: 25769202 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2015.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We performed a simple biomechanical study to compare the fixation strength of titanium mesh with traditional tension-band augmentation, which is a standard treatment for transverse patella fractures. We hypothesised that titanium mesh augmentation is not inferior in fixation strength to the standard treatment. METHODS Twenty-four synthetic patellae were tested. Twelve were fixed with stainless steel wire and parallel cannulated screws. Twelve were fixed with parallel cannulated screws, augmented with anterior titanium mesh and four screws. A custom test fixture was developed to simulate a knee flexed to 90°. A uniaxial force was applied to the simulated extensor mechanism at this angle. A non-inferiority study design was used to evaluate ultimate force required for failure of each construct as a measure of fixation strength. Stiffness of the bone/implant construct, fracture gap immediately prior to failure, and modes of failure are also reported. RESULTS The mean difference in force at failure was -23.0 N (95% CI: -123.6 to 77.6N) between mesh and wire constructs, well within the pre-defined non-inferiority margin of -260 N. Mean stiffness of the mesh and wire constructs were 19.42 N/mm (95% CI: 18.57-20.27 N/mm) and 19.49 N/mm (95% CI: 18.64-20.35 N/mm), respectively. Mean gap distance for the mesh constructs immediately prior to failure was 2.11 mm (95% CI: 1.35-2.88 mm) and 3.87 mm (95% CI: 2.60-5.13 mm) for wire constructs. CONCLUSIONS Titanium mesh augmentation is not inferior to tension-band wire augmentation when comparing ultimate force required for failure in this simplified biomechanical model. Results also indicate that stiffness of the two constructs is similar but that the mesh maintains a smaller fracture gap prior to failure. The results of this study indicate that the use of titanium mesh plating augmentation as a low-profile alternative to tension-band wiring for fixation of transverse patella fractures warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Dickens
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC10 5600, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States.
| | - Christina Salas
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC10 5600, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; Center for Biomedical Engineering, The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC01 1141, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - LeRoy Rise
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC10 5600, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Cristina Murray-Krezan
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC10 5550, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Mahmoud Reda Taha
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC10 5600, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; Center for Biomedical Engineering, The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC01 1141, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Thomas A DeCoster
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC10 5600, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Rick J Gehlert
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC10 5600, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
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