Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 1992; 05(03): 109-113
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1633079
Original Research
Schattauer GmbH

Holding Strength of 4.5 mm Cortical Screws in Polymethylmethacrylate Filled Medullary Cavities of Canine Bone

S. E. Klause
2   College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
,
S. B. Gustafson
2   College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
,
D. M. Blackketter
3   College of Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
,
P. D. Schwarz
4   College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received for publication: 31 December 1991

Publication Date:
06 February 2018 (online)

Summary

The technique of adding polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) to the medullary cavities of canine bone significantly increases the screw pullout resistance by 3.6 times over bone without PMMA. This increased holding power per screw would be advantageous when due to the fracture configuration, a minimum number of screws must be used on one or both fracture sides. This would help resist bone shear loosening at the screw/ bone interface by adding the additional pullout strength of the PMMA. Each mm of PMMA filling the medullary cavity is equivalent to adding the pullout strength of an additional 1.0 mm of cortical bone (310.0 N/ mm).

Paired femurs were used to evaluate the in vitro mechanical advantages of the holding strength of 4.5 mm orthopaedic bone screws on adult canine bone, with and without the medullary cavity filled with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Maximum cortical screw pullout force and holding strength were significantly greater for bones with the medullary cavity filled with PMMA than for bones without PMMA. Holding strength of PMMA was not different from the holding strength per mm of bone.

 
  • REFERENCES

  • 1 Müller ME, Allgower M, Schneider R, Willenegger H. Manual of internal fixation. Berlin: Springer; 1979: 36.
  • 2 Nunamaker DM, Bowman KF, Richardson DW, Herring M. Plate luting: a preliminary report of its usage in horses. Vet Surg 1986; 4: 289-93.
  • 3 Wilier RL, Schwarz PD, Powers BE, Histand ME. Comparison of cerclage wire placement in relationship to a neutralization plate: a mechanical and histological study. Vet Comp Orthop Trauma 1990; 3: 90-6.
  • 4 Straw RC, Powers BE, Withrow SJ, Cooper MF, Turner AS. The effect of intramedullary polymethylmethacrylate on healing of intercalary cortical allografts in a canine model. J Orthop Res (in press).
  • 5 Kuzma AB, Hunter B. A new technique for avian fracture repair using intramedullary polymethylmethacrylate and bone plate fixation. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1991; 27: 239-48.
  • 6 Slatter DH. Textbook of small animal surgery. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1985: 2035-47.
  • 7 Olmstead ML, Hohn RB, Turner TM. Five-year study of 221 total hip replacements in the dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1983; 183: 191-4.
  • 8 Yovich JV, Turner AS, Smith FW. Holding power of orthopedic screws in equine third metacarpal and metatarsal bones: part I. foal bone. Vet Surg 1985; 14: 221-9.
  • 9 Brooks DB, Burstein AH, Frankel VH. The biomechanics of torsional fractures: the stress concentration effect of a drill hole. J Bone Joint Surg 1970; 52-A: 507-14.
  • 10 Mather BS. The symmetry of the mechanical properties of the human femur. J Surg Res 1967; 7: 222-5.
  • 11 Koranyi E, Bowman CE, Knecht CD, Janssen M. Holding power of orthopedic screws in bone. Clin Orthop 1972; 72: 283-6.
  • 12 von Salis B. Internal fixation in the horse: recent advances and possible applications in private practice. Proceedings of the 18th Annual Meeting of the Association for Equine Practitioners, 1972; 193-218.
  • 13 Schatzker J, Sanderson R, Murnaghan JP. The holding power of orthopedic screws in vivo. Clin Orthop 1975; 108: 115-26.
  • 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 Lyon WF, Cochran JR, Smith L. Actual holding power of various screws in bone. Ann Surg 1941; 114: 376-84.
  • 16 Bynum D, Ledbetter WB, Boyd CL, Ray DR. Holding characteristics of fasteners in bone. Exp Mech 1970; 10: 474-80.
  • 17 Boyd CL, Bynum D, Ray DR, Ledbetter WB. In vitro evaluation of bone fasteners. Southwestern Vet 1970; 23: 279-81.
  • 18 Hughes AN, Jordan BA. The mechanical properties of surgical bone screws and some aspects of insertion practice. Injury 1972; 4: 25-38.
  • 19 Frankel VH, Burstein AH. Orthopedic biomechanics: the application of engineering to the musculoskeletal system. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1970: 90-2 170-2.
  • 20 Ansell RH, Scales JT. A study of some factors which affect the strength of screws and their insertion and holding power in bone. J Biomech 1968; 1: 279-302.
  • 21 Yovich JV, Turner AS, Smith FW. Holding power of orthopedic screws in equine third metacarpal and metatarsal bones: part II. adult horse bone. Vet Surg 1985; 14: 230-4.
  • 22 Yovich JV, Turner AS, Smith FW, Davis DM. Holding power of orthopedic screws comparison of self-tapped and pre-tapped screws in foal bone. Vet Surg 1986; 15: 55-9.