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Comparative Study
. 2007 Dec;31(6):811-5.
doi: 10.1007/s00264-006-0266-9. Epub 2006 Oct 17.

Fixation of humeral surgical neck fracture using contoured pins versus straight pins: a mechanical study

Guy Vogel  1 , Aharon Chechick, Moshe Pritch Perry, Tamar Brosh
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Fixation of humeral surgical neck fracture using contoured pins versus straight pins: a mechanical study

Guy Vogel et al. Int Orthop. 2007 Dec.

Abstract
in English, French

The conventional procedure for displaced fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus uses straight pins inserted from the lateral aspect towards the head of the humerus. The objective of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of fixation by contoured (curved) pins to those fixed with regular straight pins. A transverse osteotomy was made in 30 fresh-frozen sheep humeri in the proximal metaphyseal bone region, and pins were inserted using either three parallel straight pins or three contoured pins in different planes. The assemblies were subjected to bending or rotational stresses at the fracture site. Loads versus deformations were acquired during loading and rigidity was calculated. Results showed that in bending, fixation with straight pins was 31% more rigid compared to contoured pins (p < 0.001), and in torsion, fixation using contoured pins was 21% more rigid compared to straight pins (p < 0.001). A combination of the two fixation types should be considered.

Le procédé conventionnel d’ostéosynthèse des fractures déplacées du col chirurgical de l’humérus utilise des broches rectilignes introduites par la face latérale en direction de la tête humérale. Le but de cette étude était de comparer l’utilisation de broches pré-formées et des broches rectilignes. Une ostéotomie transversale métaphysaire était faite sur 30 humérus de mouton avec montage par 3 broches rectilignes parallèles ou 3 broches incurvées dans différents plans. Ces montages étaient soumis à des forces de flexion et des forces de rotation au niveau de l’ostéotomie. Les résultats montraient qu’en flexion les broches rectilignes étaient plus rigides que les broches incurvées (p < 0,001) et qu’en torsion la fixation avec des broches incurvées était plus rigide que celles avec des broches rectilignes (p < 0,001). Une combinaison des 2 types de fixation paraît interessante.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Bones with a contoured pins and b straight pins. The loading rod used for torsional loading is also depicted
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Bending test. White arrow indicates direction of the applied load. b Torsion test. White arrow indicates direction of the applied load
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Characteristic force displacement diagrams obtained during loading. a Bending loading. b Torsion loading. Rigidity of fixation was calculated as the slope of each curve
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
a Straight pins concentrated in a single medial area of the fracture far from the central axis of the bone. a1 X-ray, a2 cross section at the fracture site. b Contoured pins scattered over the surface of the fracture, with Shanz pin inserted to test rotation. b1 and b2 X-rays, b3 cross section at the fracture site
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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