engleski

Internal Fixation Supracondylar Fractures of Distal Humerus: A Finite Element Analysis

Fractures of the distal humerus are usually treated with two reconstruction plates in a parallel or perpendicular position. There are no published biomechanical studies on supracondylar level of the distal humerus. A finite element analysis of two different methods of internal fixation, with two reconstructive plates in parallel and perpendicular, of distal humerus fractures according to the fixation techniques was performed in our biomechanical study. The gap, located 2.5 cm above the fosse olecrani, length 1 cm, mimicked the unstable fracture in supracondylar region. Six screws were set on each plate, three on each side of the gap. We performed static bending load of 100 N on the corresponding segment of the distal humerus in a flexion position of 75 degrees, the axial load in a flexion position of 5 degrees and lateral loads on the radial condyle. We analyzed the shifts in the gap and stress on the implant during load. Shift of the gap, the bending load and lateral load are significantly larger than the axial load, and thus have a greater significance in the overall strength analysis of the model. Displacements in the axial load are about 75% higher in perpendicular compared with parallel positioning plates. Displacements in bending loads are about 35% higher in perpendicular position, while no significant differences in increments of lateral load on the radial condyle. The perpendicular position of plates in fractures of the supracondylar distal humerus in the analysis finite elements method is mechanically more stable than the perpendicular position.

biomechanics; distal humerus fracture; reconstruction plate; finite element method

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