Improving stability of locking compression plates through a design modification: a computational investigation

D. Anitha, Shamal Das De, Khong Kok Sun, Hitendra K. Doshi and Taeyong Lee

Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 2015, vol. 18, issue 2, 153-161

Abstract: Femoral shaft fractures are common in both the young and elderly due to high-impact trauma and low-impact trauma, respectively. Its treatment by indirect reduction through use of locking compression plates (LCPs) has been on the rise. The LCP possess several advantages in fracture fixation, combining angular stability through use of locking screws with misalignment correction and fracture reduction onto the plate through use of conventional screws. However, there have been cases of plate breakage and fracture non-unions to warrant a study to improve its stability. A design modification is suggested for mid-diaphyseal fractures, whereby unused screw holes are removed. The structural stability of the modified and commercially available LCP is computationally analyzed using finite element modelling and a comparison made in terms of mechanical performance across different fracture lengths. A critical fracture length for which the commercially available LCP is functional as a fixator for mid-diaphyseal fractures was established. The maximum von Mises' stress attained by the commercially available LCP rose to as high as 105 MPa, whereas for the modified LCP, it did not exceed 25 MPa. As expected, these stresses were also found at screw holes, nearest to the fracture site. Critical fracture length allows clinicians to quantitatively distinguish between mid-diaphyseal fractures that can or cannot be treated by the use of LCP fixation. It is also believed that the proposed design modification will substantially increase the fatigue life of the fixator, especially at screw holes nearest to the fracture region, where most fatigue fractures are known to occur and will consequently be functional for greater fracture lengths.

Date: 2015
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/10255842.2013.785536 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:gcmbxx:v:18:y:2015:i:2:p:153-161

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/gcmb20

DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2013.785536

Access Statistics for this article

Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering is currently edited by Director of Biomaterials John Middleton

More articles in Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().