Logo image
Longitudinal Crack Propagation in Bone Around Femoral Prosthesis
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Longitudinal Crack Propagation in Bone Around Femoral Prosthesis

STEPHEN J Incavo, FRANK Difazio, DAVID Wilder, JAMES G Howe and MALCOLM Pope
Clinical orthopaedics and related research, Vol.272, pp.175-180
11/1991
DOI: 10.1097/00003086-199111000-00026
PMID: 1934730

View Online

Abstract

Intraoperative femoral fracture is a well-recognized technical complication of cementless total hip arthroplasty. This study was designed to establish an in vitro model for initiation and propagation of fractures of the proximal femur in cement-less THA and to assess the effect of fracture fixation in the form of cerclage wiring and drilling a hole in the distal extent of the fracture line. Fourteen human anatomic femur specimens were studied. Longitudinal cracks were made and propagation was performed on a materials testing system machine. A drill hole at the tip of a longitudinal crack does not prevent crack propagation. However, cerclage wiring has a statistically significant effect (p < 0.025) on the ability of the fractured femur to withstand increased load.

Details

Metrics

Logo image