Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Do K-wires made from shape memory alloys increase pull-out forces? A preliminary experimental cadaver study in bovine bone

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

After osteosynthesis of the proximal humerus by Kirschner wires (K-wire), loosening and secondary loss can occur. This study tested primary fixation of wires made from a shape memory alloy (SMA) Nitinol® (NiTi), compared to conventional steel K-wires by pull-out tests. Blocks of cancellous bone were tested with three wire types: NiTi-K-wire with split apex geometry and conventional steel K-wires with and without threads. We found that NiTi-wires can be pulled out of bone more easily than steel wires (P = 0.05), even though the former had rougher surfaces. The application of NiTi-wires through bone produced no better stability in comparison to normal steel K-wires, because of triggering the memory effect. Further studies are required to determine if NiTi wires of another appropriate design, surface and localization are superior to conventional wires in the context of this application.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Airoldi G, Riva G (1996) Innovative materials: the NiTi alloys in orthodontics. Biomed Mater Eng 6:299–305

    Google Scholar 

  2. Barber FA, Herber MA, Click JN (1996) Suture anchor strength revisited. Arthroscopy 12:32–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Brooks C, Revell WJ, Heatly FW (1993) Vascularity of the humeral head after proximal humeral fractures. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 75:132–136

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gahr R, Thierack C, Kramer G (1986) Percutaneous reconstruction and fixation of closed fractures of the tibial head. Results of a follow-up study. Zentralbl Chir 111(20):1241–1249

    Google Scholar 

  5. Haasters J, Sali-Solio G, Bonsman G (1990) The use of Ni-Ti as an implant material in orthopedics. In: Duerig TW, Melton KN, Stockel D, Wayman CM (eds) Engineering aspects of shape memory alloys. Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, pp 426–444

    Google Scholar 

  6. Haher TR, Yeung AW, Caruso SA, et al (1999) Occipital screw pullout strength. A biomechanical investigation of occipital morphology. Spine 24(1):5–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Halder SC, Chapman JA, Choudhury G, Wallace WA (2001) Retrograde fixation of fractures of the neck and shaft of the humerus with the ´Halder humeral nail´. Injury 32:695–703

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Jaberg H, Warner JP, Jakon RP (1992) Percutaneous stabilization of unstable fractures of the humerus. J Bone Joint Surg (Am) 74:508–515

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kasai Y, Takegami K, Matsumine A, Kawamoto M, Uchida A (2003) Superelastic Ti–Ni alloy wire intramedullary nails for metastatic femoral pathological fracture: a case report. J Surg Oncol 83:123–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Khmelevskaya IY, Ryklin EP, Morozova TV (1994) Application of NiTi shape memory effect alloys to X-ray endostenting and other medical fields. In: Pelton AR, Hodgson D, Duerig TW (eds) Proceedings of SMST. Shape Memory and Superelastic Technologies, Pacific Grove, pp 495–498

  11. Kocialkowski A, Wallace WA (1990) Closed percutaneous K-wire stabilization for displaced fractures of the surgical neck of the humerus. Injury 21:209–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kujala S, Ryhänen J, Jämsä T (2003) Bone modeling controlled by a nickel-titanium shape memory alloy intramedullary nail. Biomaterials 23:2535–2543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kumar A, Whittle AP (2000) Treatment of complex (Schatzker Type VI) fractures of the tibial plateau with circular wire external fixation: retrospective case review. J Orthop Trauma 14(5):339–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Lauritzen JB, Schwarz P, Lund B, et al (1993) Changing incidence and residual lifetime risk of common osteoporosis-related fractures. Osteoporos Int 3(3):127–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Lerner A, Stein H (2000) Hybrid thin wire external fixation: an effective, minimally invasive, modular surgical tool for the stabilization of periarticular fractures. Orthopedics 27(1):59–62

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lill H, Josten C (2001) Conservative or opertative treatment of humeral head fractures in the elderly? Chirurg 72:1224–1234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Lindemann-Sperfeld L, Pilz F, Marintschev I, Otto W (2003) Fractures of the distal radius. Minimally invasive pin fixation indications and results. Chirurg 74(11):1000–1008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Perren SM (1976) Force measurements in screw fixation. J Biomech 9:669–675

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Reynaerts D, Peirs J, Van Brussel H (1995) Production of shape memory alloys for microactuation. J Micromech Microeng 5:1–3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Rubel IF, Seligson D, Lai JL, Voor MJ, Wang M (2001) Pullout strengths of self-reinforced poly-L-lactide (SR-PLLA) rods versus Kirschner wires in bovine femur. J Orthop Trauma 15(6):429–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Rupf G, Weise K (1987) Temporary bone wire osteosynthesis in fractures of the head of the humerus. Aktuelle Traumatol 17(3):124–30

    Google Scholar 

  22. Sato O, Aoki M, Kawaguchi S, et al (2002) Antegrade intramedullary K-wire fixation for distal radial fractures. J Hand Surg (Am) 27(4):707–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Shabalovskaya SA (1996) On the nature of the biocompatibility and on medical applications of NiTi shape memory and superelastic alloys. Biomed Mater Eng 6:267–289

    Google Scholar 

  24. Zifko B, Poigenfürst J, Pezzei CH (1992) Intramedullary nailing of unstable proximal humeral fractures. Orthopäde 21:115–120

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Dr. Paul Kretchmer at San Francisco Edit for his assistance in editing this manuscript. This work was supported by the following grant from the German Ministry of Economics and Research: MedInform®.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Traumatology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany

    U. Wiebking, T. Gösling, W. Monschizada & C. Krettek

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    T. Rau

Authors
  1. U. Wiebking
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. Gösling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. W. Monschizada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. Rau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C. Krettek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to U. Wiebking.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wiebking, U., Gösling, T., Monschizada, W. et al. Do K-wires made from shape memory alloys increase pull-out forces? A preliminary experimental cadaver study in bovine bone. Med Bio Eng Comput 45, 585–589 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-007-0193-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-007-0193-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation