TY - JOUR
T1 - Theoretical analysis of fracture healing monitoring with external fixators
AU - An, K. N.
AU - Kasman, R. A.
AU - Chao, E. Y.S.
PY - 1988
Y1 - 1988
N2 - A fracture healing monitoring system with external fixators was analysed using the finite element method. Pin displacement and side bar strain under axial and side loading were evaluated at various stages of simulated fracture healing. In general, a recovery of rigidity at the fracture site of up to 25 percent of intact bone could be sensitively predicted. Effects of cross-sectional distribution and length of callus at the fracture site on pin displacement and side bar strain were studied. Alterations of fixation configuration, such as component failure during the healing process, were found to have relatively little effect on pin displacement but a rather larger effect on side bar strain. In general, the assessment of fracture healing by monitoring the deformation of external fixation devices is a useful idea. However, in practice, great care must be taken to fully understand the implication of the monitoring system before drawing conclusions on such measurements.
AB - A fracture healing monitoring system with external fixators was analysed using the finite element method. Pin displacement and side bar strain under axial and side loading were evaluated at various stages of simulated fracture healing. In general, a recovery of rigidity at the fracture site of up to 25 percent of intact bone could be sensitively predicted. Effects of cross-sectional distribution and length of callus at the fracture site on pin displacement and side bar strain were studied. Alterations of fixation configuration, such as component failure during the healing process, were found to have relatively little effect on pin displacement but a rather larger effect on side bar strain. In general, the assessment of fracture healing by monitoring the deformation of external fixation devices is a useful idea. However, in practice, great care must be taken to fully understand the implication of the monitoring system before drawing conclusions on such measurements.
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U2 - 10.1243/EMED_JOUR_1988_017_006_02
DO - 10.1243/EMED_JOUR_1988_017_006_02
M3 - Article
C2 - 3366291
AN - SCOPUS:0023930441
SN - 0046-2039
VL - 17
SP - 11
EP - 15
JO - Engineering in Medicine
JF - Engineering in Medicine
IS - 1
ER -