Biomedical subjects

A F Tencer

Publications and source records attributed to A F Tencer.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1989

In vitro spinal arthrodesis implant mechanical testing protocols.

Mechanical testing protocols and test methods used to evaluate spinal implants have varied widely. Use of different test methods would not present a problem except that multicomponent mechanical systems, such as the spine and spinal implant constructs, yield different mechanical properties when subjected to different test methods. The goal of this article is to outline considerations specific to the mechanical assessment of spinal implants. With standard test methods and treatment of results, redundancy between testing programs will be reduced and comparison of results will be facilitated.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1988

Pressure distribution in the wrist joint.

We performed a study to determine pressure distribution properties of the normal radio-carpal joint. A system was developed for measurement of the contact pressure within the wrist joint surfaces. The transducer was based on Fuji pressure-sensitive paper, which was inserted into the joint space through a dorsal capsular incision. The hand was then positioned using a jig that permitted free axial loading of the joint. Each of five specimens was tested in 36 positions combining flexion/extension with radio/ulnar deviation and supination/pronation. The transducers were analyzed for contact area, scapho-lunate contact area ratio, pressure, and centroid locations using a microcomputer-based video-imaging system. The scaphoid and lunate contact areas on the radius and triangular fibrocartilage were separate and distinct in all wrist positions. Together these contact areas accounted for a relatively small fraction of the total joint surface area (average contact area/total joint area = 0.206, SD = 0.0495). For an applied 103 Newton compressive load, the high pressure averaged 3.17 MPa (SD = 0.83 MPa). Overall, the scaphoid contact area was 1.47 times that of the lunate, although variations occurred with position, as in flexion, in which the scaphoid/lunate area ratio was 0.83. The high-pressure centroids of both scaphoid and lunate contact areas shifted palmarly from 20 degrees of flexion to 20 degrees of extension and then dorsally with further extension. The scaphoid-lunate intercentroid distance averaged 14.91 mm with a range of 10-20 mm.

Carpal Bones↗

PubMed1988

Comparative mechanical properties of various Kirschner wire configurations in transverse and oblique phalangeal fractures.

A biomechanical study assessed the comparative mechanical properties of various wire configurations used in transverse and oblique phalangeal fractures. The configurations included crossed, oblique, and intramedullary wire techniques using 0.028-inch diameter (d) or 0.035-inch d Kirschner (K) wires. Six different configurations were tested in both the oblique fracture pattern and in the transverse fracture pattern. The mechanical properties were determined after either oblique or transverse osteotomy and fixation of the proximal phalanx. Each fixation technique was tested in apex palmar, apex dorsal, and lateral bending, as well as in torsion and distraction. The results showed that of the configurations tested, four crossed 0.028-inch d Kirschner wires obtained the highest rigidity in the transverse fracture pattern and three oblique 0.035-inch d Kirschner wires obtained the highest rigidity in the oblique fracture pattern.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Pull-out strengths of bone screws at various sites about the pelvis--a preliminary study.

The pull-out strength of both cortical and cancellous screws from bone at various sites about cadaveric pelves was examined. No significant differences were seen between cortical or cancellous screws at similar sites with the possible exception of the sacroiliac joint. Pull-out strengths were best correlated to the depth of bone at a particular screw hole. For practical purposes, the strongest sites are in the thick buttress of bone along the iliopubic column.

Acetabulum↗

PubMed1988

Biomechanical comparisons of spinal fracture models and the stabilizing effects of posterior instrumentations.

In this study, the authors evaluated the stiffness of motion segments in intact spines in two spine fracture models, and with each of five implant systems used for posterior fixation of thoracolumbar spine fractures. The devices represented a cross-section of types, including those employing sublaminar wires with and without laminar hooks, pedicle screws, plates, and rods. Two spine fracture models, one partially and one totally destabilized, were used in the tests of the instrumentation. Stiffness, or the magnitude of load needed to produce a unit displacement of the construct in the direction of the applied load, was measured in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and torsion in combination with a compressive force. Both horizontal plane shear and angular displacements were measured in the two fracture patterns. All evaluations were made by testing the difference in stiffness for statistical significance among groups. The results showed significant differences in stiffness without instrumentation among intact spines, partly destabilized spines (anterior two-thirds of disk and posterior ligaments removed), and totally destabilized spines (only anterior longitudinal ligament intact). The implant/spine constructs were least stiff relative to the intact spine in torsion, followed in increasing order of stiffness with flexion, lateral bending, and extension. In the Roy-Camille plate with six-screw fixation was found to produce the stiffest construct, followed by wired Harrington rods, C-rods and J-rods, and the Vermont internal fixator.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1988

Mechanical and bone ingrowth properties of a polymer-coated, porous, synthetic, coralline hydroxyapatite bone-graft material.

CHAG, that is, porous hydroxyapatite hydrothermally converted from the calcium carbonate exoskeleton of a coral (genus Goniopora), has been shown to be effective as a scaffold for bone ingrowth. The large pores in the material, however, resulted in low compressive strengths. Compressive testing was performed to assess the changes in mechanical properties by coating the internal surfaces of CHAG with DL-PLA. Plugs of CHAG with thick (3:1 chloroform to DL-PLA by weight), medium (10:1), and thin (30:1) coatings as well as uncoated CHAG were then implanted transcortically in the proximal third of the diaphysis of rabbit tibiae to assess the in vivo response. The mechanical tests demonstrated significantly improved compressive strength, stiffness, and energy absorption for coated specimens compared with uncoated specimens. Coated specimens were not significantly different from canine tibial cancellous bone in strength and stiffness although they achieved only 36% of the energy absorption capacity. Specimens from rabbit tibiae were harvested at 3, 12, and 24 weeks for interface shear strength determination and contralaterally for histological and histomorphometric assessment. At 12 weeks, uncoated CHAG plugs developed an average ultimate interface shear stress of 26.7 MPa compared with 17 MPa for specimens with 30:1 coatings and 8 MPa for specimens with 10:1 and 3:1 coatings. At 24 weeks, there were no significant differences in shear stress between any of the specimens. Histomorphometric assessments showed that the ratio of area fraction of new bone to area fraction of new bone and void space increased from 68-70% for specimens with 3:1 and 10:1 coatings at 3 weeks to 85.5-89.5% at 24 weeks. In comparison, uncoated and 30:1 specimens had area fraction ratios of about 82% at 3 weeks and 93% at 24 weeks. Histologic sections demonstrated direct apposition of new bone to both the coating and the hydroxyapatite as well as degradation of the coating.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Bone ingrowth into polymer coated porous synthetic coralline hydroxyapatite.

Porous hydroxyapatite, converted hydrothermally from the calcium carbon exoskeleton of the coral genus Goniopora (CHAG), has been shown to be effective as a scaffold for bone ingrowth (2,3,5-7,9). However, the large pores in the material resulted in low compressive strengths. In a previous study, we found that microcoating the internal surfaces of CHAG with dilactic-polyactic acid (DL-PLA) improved significantly its compressive properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of PLA microcoating on bone ingrowth into CHAG plugs. Plugs of thick- (3:1 chloroform to DL-PLA by weight), medium- (10:1), and thin- (30:1) coated as well as uncoated CHAG were implanted transcortically in the proximal third of the diaphysis of the rabbit tibia. Specimens were harvested at 3, 12, and 24 weeks for mechanical testing and contralaterally for histological and histomorphometric assessment. At 12 weeks, uncoated CHAG plugs developed an average ultimate interface shear stress of 26.7 MPa, compared with 17 MPa for 30:1 and 8 MPa for 10:1 and 3:1 coated specimens. At 24 weeks, there were no significant differences in shear stress among any of the specimens. Histomorphometric assessments showed that the ratio of area fractions of new bone to area fractions of new bone and void space increased from 68-70% for 3:1 and 10:1 coated specimens at 3 weeks, and to 85.5-89.5% at 24 weeks. In comparison, uncoated and 30:1 specimens had area fraction ratios of about 82% at 3 weeks and 93% at 24 weeks. Histologic sections demonstrated direct apposition of new bone to both the coating and the hydroxyapatite as well as degradation of the coating.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Load transfer characteristics of the wrist. Part I. The normal joint.

A static positioning frame allows the positioning of unembalmed human upper extremities in any combination of wrist flexion/extension, radio/ulnar deviation, and pronation/supination. Pressure-sensitive film (Fuji) was used to study the contact areas, scaphoid-lunate area ratios, average high pressures, centroid positions, and intercentroid distances of five wrist joints under a uniform load of 103 Newtons (N) in 36 different positions. The contact areas accounted for only 20.6% of the available joint surface. They shift from a primarily palmar location to a primarily dorsal location when the wrist changes from flexion to extension. Overall the scaphoid contact area was 1.47 times that of the lunate and was generally greatest with the wrist in ulnar deviation. The scapho-lunate contact area ratio increased as wrist position changed from radial to ulnar deviation and/or from flexion to extension. For the constant load of 103 Newtons the high pressure averaged 3.17 megapascals (MPa). The scaphoid and lunate high pressure centroids shifted palmar when wrist position changed from 20 degrees of flexion to 20 degrees of extension and then shifted dorsal with further extension of the wrist. The intercentroid distance averaged 14.91 mm and ranged from 10 to 20 mm.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1987

Load transfer characteristics of the wrist. Part II. Perilunate instability.

An experimental model with a static positioning frame, pressure-sensitive film (Fuji), and a microcomputer-based video digitizing system, previously developed by the two senior authors, was used in this study to examine the effects of increasing perilunate instability on the load transfer characteristics of the wrist. These effects included a significant dorsal ulnar shift of the scaphoid centroid with increasing perilunate instability together with a less dramatic palmar ulnar shift of the lunate centroid. Overall, the scaphoid contact area was found to decrease as the stage of perilunate instability increased, even in ulnar deviation and/or extension, which in the normal wrist was found to be the positions that had the greatest scaphoid contact area. Average pressures in the high pressure zones were found to significantly increase in wrists with a stage III instability compared with normal wrists. An increase in the intercentroid (scaphoid/lunate) distance was most evident with the wrist in 20 degrees extension, neutral radioulnar deviation, and 90 degrees supination.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1987

Biomechanical factors affecting fracture stability and femoral bursting in closed intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures, with illustrative case presentations.

Closed intramedullary nailing is an accepted method of treatment for femoral shaft fractures. Technical complications of the procedure include fracture instability, which may result in proximal nail migration, malrotation, delayed union, and occasionally femoral bursting during insertion of the nail, sometimes leading to fracture instability as well as shortening. This study defines the effect of starting hole position, fracture component length, reamed diameter, and nail type on the potential for femoral bursting and fracture instability. The most significant factor in the proximal femoral component was found to be the position of the starting hole. Anterior displacement by greater than 6 mm from the neutral axis of the medullary canal consistently caused high hoop stresses at the level of the fracture, which resulted in bursting of the proximal femoral component by lifting off the anterior cortex. Hoop stresses at the level of the fracture were less sensitive to lateral or medial placement of the starting hole. Distally, fracture stability was governed by femoral component length and reamed diameter. In the proximal and distal components, fracture stability and the potential for bursting were influenced by the particular nail used. This was due to significant differences in mechanical geometric properties between nails of different manufacturers. Case reports are presented to illustrate these biomechanical principles as they apply to clinical situations.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

The effect of implant axial and torsional stiffness on fracture healing.

A study was performed to compare the mechanical properties of healing transverse femoral osteotomies fixed with either (a) plates of high or low axial stiffness (compression or slotted plates) but equivalent bending and torsional stiffnesses, or (b) rods of high or low torsional stiffness (solid or slotted rods) but equivalent bending and axial stiffnesses. Compression and slotted plates were implanted contralaterally in one group of adult mongrel dogs and solid or slotted rods were implanted contralaterally in a second group as fixation for transverse osteotomies. We found that the compression-plated femora regained strength and stiffness earlier than the slotted-plated femora and healed with less callus formation. The femora fixed with rods healed with no significant differences in properties at any time interval. Also, the femora fixed with rods had mechanical properties close to those of the slotted-plated femora and lower than those of the compression-plated femora at the same time intervals. We concluded that contact compression caused the differences in the healing results and was more important than differences in torsional or axial rigidity of the implant.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

The biomechanics of decompressive laminectomy.

The biomechanical effect of laminectomy as a means of relieving compression of the spinal cord-meningeal complex by an anterior mass was studied in ten grossly normal human cadaver spines. The basic experimental set-up involved drilling a sagittal plane hole transversely across a vertebral body to provide direct access to the anterior aspect of the neural canal. After securing a probe and linearly variable differential transformer (LVDT) assembly at each site to be tested, the probe was gently pushed into the neural canal; contact force against the tip of the probe as well as the depth of probe penetration was measured and recorded. Laminectomy did not alter the resulting contact force/anterior penetration plots at the fifth cervical, seventh thoracic, 12th thoracic, or third lumbar vertebra. Using the probe/LVDT assembly to measure anterior dural displacement and a cantilever displacement device to measure posterior dural displacement after laminectomy at the 12th thoracic vertebra, the authors found that although the anterior dura underwent gross displacement as the probe was pushed into the neural canal, the posterior dura displaced to a minimal degree. The extent of the laminectomy was not a factor. The study did not demonstrate any possible mechanism by which laminectomy could reduce the pressure exerted on the dura and neural elements by an anterior mass in a spine with otherwise normal neural canal dimensions.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1986

A comparison of various types of fixation devices for protection of the posterior cruciate ligament against a posterior drawer force.

We compared four different fixation devices to determine which offers the greatest relative protection to the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) against elongation with an applied posterior drawer force. We designed a system to monitor and record the change in distance between an approximate origin and insertion of the PCL as known forces were applied posteriorly to the tibia with the femur fixed. Six fresh cadaver knees were used in this investigative series. They were first tested with the PCL intact, then with the PCL transected, and then with the various fixation devices applied. After comparing the results with transarticular pins and quadrilateral and anterior half-frame external fixators, we found that transarticular fixation offers significantly greater protection to the PCL. This study may prove to be helpful to the orthopaedist when selecting ancillary fixation for posterior cruciate repair or reconstruction.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Coralline hydroxyapatite bone graft substitutes in a canine metaphyseal defect model: radiographic-biomechanical correlation.

Radiographic and biomechanical assessment of a new type of bone graft substitute derived from reef-building sea coral was performed in a canine metaphyseal defect model. Blocks of this material and autogenous iliac crest graft were implanted, respectively, into the right and left proximal tibial metaphyses of eight dogs. Qualitative and quantitative radiographic evaluation was performed in the immediate postoperative period and at 6 months after surgery. Biomechanical testing was carried out on all grafts following harvest at 6 months, as well as on nonimplanted coralline hydroxyapatite and autogenous iliac cancellous bone. In contrast to autografts, incorporation of coralline implants was characterized by predictable osseous growth and apposition with preservation of intrinsic architecture. Greater percent increase in radiographic density, higher ultimate compressive strength, and lower stiffness with incorporation were documented advantages of coralline hydroxyapatite over autogenous graft. Densitometric measurements correlated moderately with strength for both types of graft material (r = -0.65). These promising results have important implications to the clinical application of coralline hydroxyapatite bone graft substitutes as an alternative to autogenous grafting.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed1986

Biomechanical performance of locked intramedullary nail systems in comminuted femoral shaft fractures.

The biomechanical properties of commercially available locked nail systems designed for use in comminuted femoral shaft fractures were compared and evaluated. Ender nails as well as three forms of interlocking nails, Brooker-Wills (B-W), Klenm-Schellman (K-S), and Grosse-Kempf (G-K), were implanted in cadaver femora. The femora were tested in torsion, bending, and axial loading to failure. Two fracture models were tested--a 3 cm subtrochanteric defect and an 8 cm midshaft defect. Results of the testing revealed the three interlocking nails to be comparable to each other and superior to Ender nails in bending and torsion. However, the distally bolted locked nails (K-S, G-K) resisted significantly higher loads than either the distally bladed locked nail (B-W) or Ender nails when tested to failure by axial loading.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Compressive properties of polymer coated synthetic hydroxyapatite for bone grafting.

A porous hydroxyapatite material hydrothermally converted from the calcium carbonate exoskeleton of the coral, genus Goniopora (CHAG) was either microcoated using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or polylactic acid (PLA) to cover all internal surfaces, or externally coated to produce a shell, with the objective of reducing the brittleness of the material. Compressive testing showed that while CHAG, externally coated with PMMA, showed the largest increases in strength, stiffness, and energy absorption, the uncoated hydroxyapatite core cracked at low loads although the shell remained intact. CHAG internally microcoated with PMMA showed a 3.84 increase in compressive strength while specimens with internal PLA coatings had 1.81 times the compressive strength of uncoated CHAG specimens. Compared to the mechanical properties of cancellous graft material, specimens internally microcoated with either polymer could be produced having properties equivalent to or greater than those of cancellous graft.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

A biomechanical study of thoracolumbar spine fractures with bone in the canal. Part III. Mechanical properties of the dura and its tethering ligaments.

Experiments were performed to determine some mechanical properties of the spinal cord-meningeal (SCM) complex and its tethering elements with reference to factors contributing to contact pressure of an anterior mass on the SCM complex with spinal fracture and the development of some means to relieve the pressure. Measurements were made using a combined microload cell and displacement transducer that was passed posteriorly through a hole drilled in vertebra T12 through the interpedicular space and contacted the cord. Loss of nerve roots and anterior ligaments as dural tethers in the lumbar region permitted the SCM complex to fall out of the lordosis of the canal and fail to resist transverse loading. Head and neck flexion increased contact force for a given depth of penetration, particularly in the cervical region. This was consistent with measurements of strain along the dura that was greatest in the cervical region. The dura was found to be elastic, having a failure strain averaging 34% but was uniform in thickness, stiffness, and elastic modulus along its length. The study did not delineate any surgical manipulation other than removal of the anterior mass that would be beneficial when there is anterior compression of the spinal cord.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1985

Biomechanical factors affecting fracture stability and femoral bursting in closed intramedullary rod fixation of femur fractures.

Intramedullary rodding of femur fractures, although a safe and rapidly performed procedure, can result in several complications. If the rod fit is too loose, fracture instability, rod migration, and delayed union may result. If the rod fit is too tight, cracking of the femur may occur during rod insertion. These complications were investigated in terms of geometric and mechanical parameters of the bone-implant system. Results showed that rods of the same nominal size from different manufacturers showed more than twofold difference in flexural rigidity and a threefold difference in torsional modulus. These differences appear to be due to differences in cross sectional shape and wall thickness of the rods. Measurements of pushout force and hoop stress in cadaver femora showed a large difference in pushout force with different rods, and significantly lower forces in distal than in proximal femoral fracture components. Pushout force decreased with fracture component length proximally and dropped to zero in distal components less than 170 mm long. An increase in ream diameter in the distal components of just 1 mm was found to decrease the mean pushout force from 740N to 90N. The most significant variable was found to be anterior offset of the starting hole more than 6 mm from the centerline of the medullary canal which resulted in consistent lifting of the anterior cortex during insertion of the rod.

Adult↗