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Biomechanical analysis of distal femoral fracture fixation: dynamic condylar screw versus locked compression plate

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Abstract

Background

This human cadaveric study i ntroduces a laboratory model to establish and compare the fixation stability of the distal femoral locking plate (DFLP) and dynamic condylar screw (DCS) in distal femoral fracture fixation.

Materials and methods

The study was conducted on 16 fresh cadaveric femoral specimens, 8 implanted with the DCS and the other 8 with the DFLP. The construct was made unstable by removing a standard-sized medial wedge with a 1-cm base (gap osteotomy) beginning 6 cm proximal to the lateral joint line in the distal metaphyseal region with loss of the medial buttress. Each specimen underwent axial and torsional stiffness testing along with cyclic axial loading to failure. The mean DEXA value for the DFLP group was 0.82 g/cm2 and in the DCS group was 0.79 g/cm2.

Results

Axial stiffness in the DFLP group was significantly higher than in the DCS group, but no significant difference was found in torsional stiffness between the groups. A significant difference was found in the load-to-failure results between the groups. Plastic and total deformation was significantly higher in constructs in the DCS group than in those in the DFLP group. Total energy absorbed before construct failure was also significantly higher in the DFLP group than in the DCS group.

Conclusions

The DFLP construct proved stronger than the DCS in both axial stiffness and cyclic loading, but similar in torsional stiffness in biomechanical testing in a simulated A3 distal femoral fracture.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, 226010, UP, India

    Nidhi Narsaria & Ashutosh K. Singh

  2. Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi, UP, India

    Amit Rastogi

  3. Department of Metallurgy, Institute of Technology, BHU, Varanasi, UP, India

    Vakil Singh

Authors
  1. Nidhi Narsaria
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  2. Ashutosh K. Singh
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  3. Amit Rastogi
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  4. Vakil Singh
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Correspondence to Ashutosh K. Singh.

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Narsaria, N., Singh, A.K., Rastogi, A. et al. Biomechanical analysis of distal femoral fracture fixation: dynamic condylar screw versus locked compression plate. J Orthop Sci 19, 770–775 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-014-0583-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-014-0583-6

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