Physical Analysis of Failed Orthopaedic Plates Used in Long Bone Fractures

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Port Said General Hospital, Egypt.

2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt

3 Department of Applied Solid-State Physics, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Egypt

Abstract

Background:Orthopaedic implants are devices produced to replace bones or support broken bones. The use of metal devices is one of the greatest achievements in orthopaedic history. Orthopaedic devices such as joint prostheses and internal fixators are the most used implants. These implants are constructed of a variety of metals. Aim: This study aimed to analyse the physical and chemical properties of failed orthopaedic plates to improve surgical outcomes of patients. Methods: The present study was designed as an analytical cross-sectional study that included a total of 17 samples of broken orthopaedic plates used in the fixation of long bone fractures (titanium or stainless steel). The study was performed at Suez Canal university teaching hospital, Ismailia general hospital where the orthopaedic operation takes place as well as Port-Said general hospital as it is the referral hospital for orthopaedic operations in the governorate, samples analysis was carried out at the Faculty of Engineering Port Said University and the central metallurgical research and development institute. Results: Regarding femoral plates, titanium plates had higher Young's modulus (3.39 ± 2.36) than stainless plates (2.52 ± 1.04). On the other hand, titanium plates had a lower peak load (28.2 ± 9.39) than stainless plates (33.9 ± 0.12). Additionally, titanium plates had lower strain at the break (0.159 ± 0.05) than stainless plates (0.211 ± 0.11). Regarding ulnar plates, reconstruction plates had lower Young's modulus values significantly lower than tubular 1/3 and proximal plates. On the other hand, tubular 1/3 plates had significantly higher peak load values than reconstruction and proximal plates. In addition, reconstruction plates had significantly higher strain at the break value than tubular 1/3 plates and proximal plates. Conclusion: The findings of the study were that some plates did not fulfil the physical criteria (41.1%) and chemical composition (14.3% of titanium plates) for standard plates which play a major role in plates failure, also study showed that there was a difference in criteria in-between the same type of the plates according to the source of the plates.
 

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