Abstract
Background/Aim: A preliminary biomechanical study conducted on cadaver fibulae, was observed to have a significant (p< 0.001) difference between two different methods of interfragmentary screw fixation for oblique fractures.
A further study was undertaken to verify the results on composite material with biomechanical properties similar to human bone.
Material and Methods: Forty, custom designed composite fibular specimens were used for the biomechanical testing. The specimens were divided into two groups of 20 each. Group I comprised of specimens with biomechanical properties similar to young healthy bone and group II comprised of osteoporotic bone quality. The fibular specimens were osteotomised to resemble a short oblique fracture of the lateral malleolus. The fractures were fixed with interfragmentary cortical lag screws placed in antero-posterior and postero anterior directions, 10 samples in each group.
Results: In both groups, the mean force required to disrupt the fracture fixation was observed to be 0.45 kN higher in samples fixed with screws placed in postero anterior direction.
Conclusion: This study further confirms the screw placement in postero- anterior direction provides a stronger biomechanical construct for short oblique fracture of the lateral malleolus.
Correspondence should be addressed to Ms Larissa Welti, Scientific Secretary, EFORT Central Office, Technoparkstrasse 1, CH-8005 Zürich, Switzerland
