The biomechanical evaluation of polyester as a tension band for the internal fixation of patellar fractures

We use a braided polyester suture in place of cerclage wire in tension band fixations. The objective of this study was to test the biomechanical properties of this technique. Sixteen cadaveric patellae were fractured and repaired by modified tension band fixation. Eight were fixed using eighteen gau...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of medical engineering & technology Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 53 - 56
Main Authors McGreal, G., Reidy, D., Joy, A., Mahalingam, K., Cashman, W. F.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Informa UK Ltd 1999
Taylor & Francis
Subjects
Biological and medical sciences
Biomechanical Phenomena
Biomechanics
Bone Wires
Cadaveric experiments
Fracture fixation
Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Knee Joint - physiology
Medical sciences
Movement
Orthopedic surgery
Patella - injuries
Patella - surgery
Polyesters
Stainless Steel
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Suture Techniques
Sutures
Tensile Strength
Tensile testing
Wire
Human
Limpet
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Ester polymer
Lower limb
Fracture
Gastropoda
Suturation
Trauma
In vitro
Orthopedic surgery
Fixation
Surgery
Stainless steel
Tension
Bone
Invertebrata
Mollusca
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Summary:We use a braided polyester suture in place of cerclage wire in tension band fixations. The objective of this study was to test the biomechanical properties of this technique. Sixteen cadaveric patellae were fractured and repaired by modified tension band fixation. Eight were fixed using eighteen gauge stainless steel wire as a tension band and eight using braided polyester. All specimens were subjected to tensile testing. Polyester was 75.0% as strong as wire. For dynamic testing, the patellae of seven cadaveric knees were fractured and then fixed with polyester tension bands. These were mounted in a device capable of extending the knees from 90 to neutral against an applied force. None of the fixations failed. Three of the specimens fixed using 18 gauge stainless steel wire were compared with three fixed using polyester over 2000 cycles of knee flexion and extension. Polyester performed as well as wire. We conclude that polyester is an acceptable alternative to wire in tension band fixation.
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ISSN:0309-1902
1464-522X
DOI:10.1080/030919099294285