Comparison of Double-Loop Cerclage Wire Application using a Double Handle Wire Tightener versus a Single Handle Wire Tightener

Introduction: Double-loop cerclage wire is biomechanically superior to other cerclage techniques but is typically applied with a somewhat cumbersome double-handle wire tightener (DHWT). The single-handle wire tightener (SHWT) is easier to use in the authors’ clinical experience, but there are no biomechanical studies evaluating its use with double-loop cerclage wire. The goal of this study was to compare resting tension, acute load to failure, and cycles resisted of double-loop cerclage wire applied by SHWT versus DHWT.

Materials and Methods: Double-loop cerclage wires (18G) were applied by a small animal surgery resident or a board-certified surgeon to a testing apparatus using either a SHWT or DHWT in a random sequence. Each wire was evaluated for resting tension (N), acute load to failure (N), and the number of cycles resisted at 80% of the determined mean maximum tension.

Results: A total of 112 wires were tested within the study with 56 wires evaluated for tension and acute load to failure testing and 56 wires evaluated for cyclic testing. There was no significant difference between the SHWT and DHWT when evaluating resting tension (p = 0.107) and the number of cycles resisted (p = 0.595). Acute load to failure for the SHWT was higher compared with the DHWT (p = 0.001).

Discussion/Conclusion: There was no significant difference between a double loop cerclage wire applied with a SHWT versus a DHWT. The SHWT should be considered for clinical use in the application of 18G double-loop cerclage wire because it is easier to use than the DHWT.

Acknowledgment

This study was funded by the 2023 to 2024 Purdue University Veterinary Clinical Sciences Graduate Student Competitive Research Fund.

 

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
15. Juli 2025