Ex Vivo Biomechanical Comparison of Four Techniques to Tibiotarsus Osteosynthesis in Adult Laying Hens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

Objective:  To assess the biomechanical parameters of intact tibiotarsi (INT) and tibiotarsi with a 5-mm segmental diaphyseal defect repaired using four osteosynthesis techniques: a locking plate (LP), a plate-rod combination, an external skeletal fixator (one end-threaded positive-profile pin per fragment) with an intramedullary pin tie-in (TIF 1), and an external skeletal fixator (two end-threaded positive-profile pins per fragment) with an intramedullary pin tie-in (TIF 2).

Study Design:  Sixty tibiotarsi from 30 adult laying hens were allocated into five groups for nondestructive dynamic torsion and four-point bending tests, followed by failure tests. Nondestructive dynamic tests evaluated stiffness over time in torsion and bending.