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Biomechanical performance of retrograde nail for supracondylar fractures stabilization

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Abstract

The study compared the biomechanical performance of retrograde nail used to stabilize supracondylar fracture (three different levels) by means of finite element analysis. Three different nail lengths (200, 260, and 300 mm) of stainless steel and titanium nails were under consideration. Intact femur model was reconstructed from Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine images of Thai cadaveric femur scanned by computed tomography spiral scanner, whereas geometry of retrograde nail was reconstructed with the data obtained from three-dimensional laser scanner. The retrograde nail was virtually attached to the femur before nodes and elements were generated for finite element model. The finite element models were analyzed in two stages, the early stage of fracture healing and the stage after fracture healing. The finding indicated that purchasing proximal locking screw in the bowing region of the femur may be at risk due to the high stresses at the implant and bone. There were no differences in stress level, elastic strain at a fracture gap, and bone stress between stainless steel and titanium implant. Since the intramedullary canal requires reaming to accommodate the retrograde nail, the length of retrograde nail should be as long as necessary. However, in case that the retrograde nail can be accommodated into the intramedullary canal without reaming, the longer retrograde nail can be used.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand, for their kindness support of the cadaveric bone specimen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at Sriracha, Kasetsart University, Sriracha, Chonburi, Thailand

    Nattapon Chantarapanich

  2. National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), 114 Thailand Science Park, Pahonyothin Road, Klong Luang, Pathumthani, Thailand

    Kriskrai Sitthiseripratip

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Banchong Mahaisavariya

  4. Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Pongwit Siribodhi

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  1. Nattapon Chantarapanich
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  2. Kriskrai Sitthiseripratip
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  3. Banchong Mahaisavariya
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  4. Pongwit Siribodhi
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Correspondence to Kriskrai Sitthiseripratip.

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Chantarapanich, N., Sitthiseripratip, K., Mahaisavariya, B. et al. Biomechanical performance of retrograde nail for supracondylar fractures stabilization. Med Biol Eng Comput 54, 939–952 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-016-1466-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-016-1466-0

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