Nowotny J, Bischoff F, Ahlfeld T, Goronzy J, Tille E, Nimtschke U, Biewener A. Biomechanical comparison of bi- and tricortical k-wire fixation in tension band wiring osteosynthesis.
Eur J Med Res 2019;
24:33. [PMID:
31594540 PMCID:
PMC6781390 DOI:
10.1186/s40001-019-0392-7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Patients with a simple transversal fracture of the olecranon are often treated with a tension band wiring (TBW), because it is known as a biomechanically appropriate and cost-effective procedure. Nevertheless, the technique is in detail more challenging than thought, resulting in a considerable high rate of implant-related complications like k-wire loosening and soft tissue irritation. In the literature, a distinction is generally only made between transcortical (bi-) and intramedullary (mono-) fixation of the wires. There is the additional possibility to fix the proximal bent end of k-wire in the cortex of the bone and thus create a tricortical fixation. The present study investigates the effectiveness of bi- and tricortical k-wire fixation in a biomechanical approach.
Methods
TBW of the olecranon was performed at 10 cadaver ulnas from six donors in a usual manner and divided into two groups: In group 1, the k-wire was inserted by bicortical fixation (BC), and in group 2, a tricortical fixation (TC) was chosen. Failure behavior and maximum pullout strength were assessed and evaluated by using a Zwick machine. The statistical evaluation was descriptive and with a paired t test for the evaluation of significances between the two techniques.
Results
The average age of the used donors was 81.5 ± 11.5 (62–92) years. Three donors were female, and three were male. Ten k-wires were examined in BC group and 10 in the TC group. The mean bone density of the used proximal ulnas was on average 579 ± 186 (336–899) HU. The maximum pullout strength was 263 ± 106 (125–429) N in the BC group and increased significantly in the TC group to 325 ± 102 (144–466) N [p = .005].
Conclusion
This study confirms for the first time biomechanical superiority of tricortical k-wire fixation in the olecranon when using a TBW and may justify the clinical use of this method.
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