Forces generated in guide-wires when drilling human bone.

In orthopaedic surgery guide-wires are extensively used for the drilling of pilot holes in human bones to allow further drilling, reaming and screw-tapping to take place in the repair and reconstruction of fractures. The guide-wires are generally 1.5 to 2.5 mm in diameter and have a three-faceted point with or without a screw thread. This paper describes drilling tests carried out using both types of guide-wire and these are compared with results obtained from a two-faceted geometry developed during this research. Tests were performed on the heads of femurs which had been removed during hip arthroplasty. A variable speed drilling machine together with a very sensitive drilling dynamometer were used for measuring the torque and thrust during the experimental stage of the research. This equipment was developed as part of an overall research programme into the mechanics of drilling of human bone. The indications are, firstly, that little advantage is gained by using a threaded-point guide-wire. In fact using a thread on the guide-wire can be a disadvantage. Secondly, the thrust cutting force is dependent on the spindle speed and feed. An optimum set of speeds of between 800 and 1400 r/min is recommended for 2.5 mm diameter guide-wires.