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Biomechanical Principles of Fracture Healing

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Essential Biomechanics for Orthopedic Trauma

Abstract

Osteogenic tissues are remarkably mechanosensitive during both growth and repair. Thus, it is important for a surgeon aiming to optimize bone regeneration to create an ideal mechanical environment with the surgical protocol, implants, and postsurgical weight-bearing they select. Here, we discuss the basics of mechanical strength from both the material and structural perspectives for fracture callus tissues and implant materials. After reviewing this chapter, the reader should be able to find characteristic points on a stress-strain curve and to categorize material properties (i.e., stiff vs. compliant, strong vs. weak, ductile vs. brittle). The following topics are also covered: anisotropy, fatigue failure, viscoelasticity, and stress concentrations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Sarah H. McBride-Gagyi

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA

    Maureen E. Lynch

Authors
  1. Sarah H. McBride-Gagyi
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  2. Maureen E. Lynch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah H. McBride-Gagyi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Trauma Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    Brett D. Crist

  2. BayCare Health System, Lutz, FL, USA

    Joseph Borrelli Jr.

  3. Injury Repair and Recovery Program, McGill University Health Center Research Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Edward J. Harvey

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McBride-Gagyi, S.H., Lynch, M.E. (2020). Biomechanical Principles of Fracture Healing. In: Crist, B., Borrelli Jr., J., Harvey, E. (eds) Essential Biomechanics for Orthopedic Trauma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36990-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36990-3_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-36989-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-36990-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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