Combined effects of physiotherapy exercises and flexible composite implants on the healing of tibial bone fractures

• Published in: Composites science and technology Vol. 223; p. 109416
• Main Authors: Askari Rizvi, Syed Hasan, Zaheer, Muhammad Usama, Chang, Seung-Hwan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Barking Elsevier Ltd 26.05.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: A. Glass fibres; A. polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); Algorithms; C. Computational mechanics; C. Finite element analysis (FEA); Composite materials; Fractures; Healing; Intramedullary nails; Orthopedics; Physical therapy; Routines; Stainless steels; Tibia; Transplants & implants; FF; SS; CTs; C. Computational mechanics; FTs; MR; GTs; A. polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); CGM; HP; BMS; IMN; A. Glass fibres; DS; BS; CCs; MSCs; C. Finite element analysis (FEA); BW; FCs; OCs
• ISSN: 0266-3538; 1879-1050
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2022.109416

Tibial fractures are highly common and serious orthopedic injuries. In this study, we estimated the effect of different physiotherapy routines on tibial fractures supported by a flexible composite intramedullary nail (IMN). Further, we coupled the tibia healing pattern with these routines and studied and compared oblique and transverse fracture geometries. The healing performance of the flexible composite implants was superior to that of the metallic implants. The biphasic mechano-regulation algorithm, callus growth model (CGM), and cell and tissue phenotype related activities provided healing patterns for the tibial fractures, and the physiotherapy routines showed diverse effects on bone healing. Finally, it was observed that tibial fracture fixed with the composite implant provided 100% and 99.3% of healing performance (HP) in comparison to 24.2% and 53.8% HP of the stainless steel (SS) implant for transverse and oblique fractures, respectively. [Display omitted] •Flexible composite implants provide better fracture joint stability for tibial fractures.•Physiotherapy activities can help patients to relive pain after surgery.•Certain durations of exercises can delay or make the healing faster.•The daily physiotherapy routines showed diverse effects on bone healing.