SEDL / STP / STP1008-EB / STP10364S

Testing of Intramedullary Nails Using Physiological Loading

Bear, LL
Graduate student and professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO

Hamilton, JJ
Chairman and professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Truman Medical Center, Kansas City, MO

Sukere, AA
Graduate student and professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO

Lynch, G
Manager of Research Laboratory and director of Materials Research, Richard Medical Co., Memphis, TN

Davidson, JA
Manager of Research Laboratory and director of Materials Research, Richard Medical Co., Memphis, TN

Pages: 8    Published: Jan 1989

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Abstract

The increased interest in using intramedullary nails for fixation of long bone fractures has created a need for more in-depth laboratory testing of these devices. Until recently, most testing has addressed bending strength, bending rigidity, and torsional strength as separate properties. In actuality, bending and torsion are applied simultaneously to an implanted intramedullary nail. This study presents a technique for mimicking physiological loading incurred by a intramedullary nail during walking gait and the results of tests performed using this method.