engleski

The experimental model for biomechanical research of midface

The facial skeleton is made up of thin segments of bone encased and supported by a more rigid framework of "buttresses". The buttress system absorbs and transmits forces applied to the facial skeleton. When external forces are applied, these components prevent disruption of the facial skeleton until a critical level is reached. Fractures of the facial skeleton distort the patient's appearance, and may compromise the function of the masticatory system, ocular system and nasal airway. The forces exerted on the cranium and midface are complex, three-dimensional and difficult to evaluate. Hereby we tried to determine if plates with only one screw pair can be used for fixation in a same way as plates with two screw pairs already are. Successive compression loading tests were conducted on a screw driven tensile/compression testing machine on nonfractured and reconstructed model with one and two pair fixation plates. Object grating method enabled us full field analysis of the surface strain distribution near the crack. Results of the preliminary experiment of the force and strain trajectories on the non-fractured skull proved that from geometrical viewpoint our model confirms with hypotheses set by medical literature. Outer screw pair has little effect on local strain distribution near the plate ends, but it substantially lowers contact forces along the crack. Object grating method can be successfully used in biomechanical model research which motivates us to conduct further investigations through dynamical experiments on the actual cadaver sculls.

midface; fracture; reconstruction; plates; strain; optical measurements;

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