Holding Power of Orthopaedic Screws in Metacarpal and Metatarsal Bones of Young Calves

Summary

The holding power and holding power per mm bone width of 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm cortical and 6.5 mm cancellous orthopaedic screws were obtained by tensile load-to-failure studies in excised metacarpal and metatarsal bones of young female Holstein calves. Holding power and holding power per mm bone width of 6.5 mm orthopaedic screws were significantly greater than those of 4.5 and 5.5 mm orthopaedic screws in the diaphysis and metaphysis. Significant differences were not detected between holding power and holding power per mm bone width of 4.5 and 5.5 mm orthopaedic screws. The holding power was not different between metacarpi and metatarsi. The limiting factor in all tests of holding power was the shear strength of the bone. We found that 6.5 mm orthopaedic screws have the greatest holding power in the metacarpal and metatarsal bones of young calves.

This study compares the holding power of 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm cortical and 6.5 mm cancellous orthopaedic screws in excised metacarpal and metatarsal bones from young female Holstein calves. We found that 6.5 mm orthopaedic screws have the greatest holding power.

Keywords

Holding power - orthopaedic screws - calf - bone

• REFERENCES

• 1 Crawford WH, Fretz PB. Long bone fractures in large animals. A retrospective study. Vet Surg 1985; 14: 295-302.
• 2 Tullencrs ER Management of bovine orthopaedic problems. Part I. Fractures. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet 1986; 8: 69-80.
• 3 Vachon A, DcBowes RM. Internal fixation of a proximal metatarsal fracture in a calf. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1987; 191: 1465-7.
• 4 Turner AS. The musculoskeletal system. Large animal orthopaedics. In: The practice of large animal surgery, vol 2. Jennings Jr PB. (ed). Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co; 1984: 768-949.
• 5 Ferguson JG. Management and repair of bovine fractures. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet 1982; 4: 128-35.
• 6 St.-Jean G. St.-Picric H. Lamothc P, Couture Y. Fractures epiphisaircs ct des os longs chez les ruminants. Met Vet Quebec 1985; 15: 63-77.
• 7 Yovich JV, Turner AS, Smith FW. Holding power of orthopaedic screws in equine third metacarpal and metatarsal bones. Part I. Foal Bone. Vet Surg 1985; 14: 221-9.
• 8 Yovich JV, Turner AS, Smith FW. Holding power of orthopaedic scrcws in equine third metacarpal and metatarsal bones. Part II. Adult horse bone. Vet Surg 1985; 14: 230-4.
• 9 Getty R. Equine osteology. In: Sisson and Grossman’s The anatomy of the domestic animals. Getty R. (ed). Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co; 1975: 255-348.
• 10 Sisson S. Ruminant osteology. In: Sisson and Grossman’s the anatomy of the domestic animals. Getty R. (ed). Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co; 1975: 741-86.
• 11 Johnston SA, Lancaster RL, Hubbard RP, Probst CW. A biomcchanical comparison of 7-hole 3.5 mm broad and 5-hole 4.5 mm narrow dynamic compression plates. Vet Surg 1991; 20: 235-9.
• 12 Hughes AN, Jorden BA. The mechanical properties of surgical bone scrcws and some aspects of insertion practice. Injury 1972; 4: 25-38.
• 13 Fackclman GE, Nunamaker DM. Manual of internal fixation in the horse. Berlin: Springer; 1982: 8-24.
• 14 Vangsness CT, Carter DR, Frankel VH. In vitro evaluation of the loosening characteristics of self-tapped and non-self-tapped cortical bone screws. Clin Orthop 1981; 157: 279-86.
• 15 Ansell RH, Scales JT. A study of some factors which affect the strength of screws and their insertion and holding power in bone. J Biomechanics 1968; 1: 279-302.
• 16 Schatzker J, Sanderson R, Murnaghan JP. The holding power of orthopaedic scrcws in vivo. Clin Orthop 1975; 108: 115-26.
• 17 Nunamaker DM, Perren SM. Force measurements in screw fixation. J Biomechanics 1976; 9: 669-75.
• 18 Koranyi E, Bowman CE, Knccht CD, Janssen M. Holding power of orthopaedic screws in bone. Clin Orthop 1970; 72: 283-6.
• 19 Schatzker J, Home JG, Sumncr-Smith G. The effect of movement on the holding power of screws in bone. Clin Orthop 1975; 111: 257-62.