Inadvertent screw stripping during ankle fracture fixation in elderly bone.

Poor screw purchase because of osteoporosis presents difficulties in ankle fracture fixation. The aim of our study was to determine if cortical thickness, unicortical versus bicortical purchase, and bone mineral density are predictors of inadvertent screw stripping and overtightening. Ten paired cadaver ankles (average donor age, 81.

Suture-button versus screw fixation in a syndesmosis rupture model: a biomechanical comparison.

Background: Flexible suture-button devices are used to stabilize the distal tibiofibular joint after syndesmotic rupture, but little is known about how they affect fibular motion during cyclic physiological loading. This study examined how much fibular motion occurs during cyclic loading of ankles repaired with suture-buttons or screws relative to one with intact ligaments.

Materials And Methods: Ten pairs of cadaveric legs with intact ligaments were tested in axial compression (750 N), external rotational torque (7.

Biomechanical analysis of sacroplasty: does volume or location of cement matter?

Background And Purpose: Currently, the effect of the volume of cement used during sacroplasty on the restoration of pelvic strength and stiffness is unknown. The purpose of this study was to measure that effect in a sacral insufficiency fracture model.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-five osteoporotic cadaveric pelves were potted, and sacral fractures were produced.

Visibility of surgical site marking after preoperative skin preparation.

Objective: It is important that during preoperative skin preparation surgical site markings are not erased. The effects of 2 common types of skin preparation solutions on surgical site markings were compared.

Methods: Fasciocutaneous skin flaps were harvested and 20 random combinations of 3 letters were written on the skin flaps with a black permanent marker.

Biomechanical comparison of expandable and locked intramedullary femoral nails.

Objectives: The expandable intramedullary (IM) nail does not require locking and fluoroscopy use is minimized. However, the lack of cross-locking screws may adversely affect the fixation's rotational stability. The purpose of our study was to compare the rotational stability afforded by an expandable nail with that of a standard locked nail.