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Biomechanical in vitro evaluation of the effect of cyclic loading on the postoperative fixation stability and degradation of a biodegradable ankle plate
Author(s) -
Väänänen Petteri,
Koistinen Arto,
Nurmi Janne,
Lappalainen Reijo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.20684
Subject(s) - ankle , fixation (population genetics) , materials science , degradation (telecommunications) , hydrolysis , biomedical engineering , chemistry , surgery , medicine , biochemistry , gene , telecommunications , computer science
The effect of cyclic loading on the postoperative fixation stability of a biodegradable ankle plate was tested biomechanically during 12 weeks of hydrolytic degradation. Fracture of the lateral malleolus was simulated, and the parameters of cyclic loading were chosen to represent the physiological conditions during the healing period. Additionally, the effect of cyclic loading on degradation was investigated by measuring the inherent viscosities. In Group I, the cyclic loading was conducted in four phases with gradual increases in estimated walking distance and speed during the healing period. In Group II, cyclic loading was conducted after 12 weeks. Group III was used as a control for inherent viscosity measurements. None of the specimens failed under cyclic loading. No significant differences were found between the loaded groups in any of the parameters measured. Additionally, no significant difference was found in inherent viscosities at 12 weeks. The initial fixation stability provided by the biodegradable ankle plate remains biomechanically unchanged over 12 weeks. Cyclic loading, applied either during or after 12 weeks of hydrolytic degradation, does not seem to have any clinically relevant effect on the fixation stability or the degradation properties. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:1485–1488, 2008