Abstract
Objectives Various materials are used to construct splints for mid-diaphyseal tibial fracture
stabilization. The objective of this study was to compare construct stiffness and
inter-fragmentary bone motion when fibreglass (FG) or thermoplastic (TP) splints are
applied to either the lateral or cranial aspect of the tibia in a mid-diaphyseal fracture
model.
Methods A coaptation bandage was applied to eight cadaveric canine pelvic limbs, with a custom-formed
splint made of either FG or TP material applied to either the lateral or cranial aspect
of the osteotomized tibia. Four-point bending tests were performed to evaluate construct
stiffness and inter-fragmentary motion in both frontal and sagittal planes.
Results For a given material, FG or TP, construct stiffness was not affected by splint location.
Construct stiffness was significantly greater with cranial FG splints than with cranial
TP splints (p < 0.05), but this difference was not significant when comparing splints applied laterally
(p = 0.15). Inter-fragmentary motions in the sagittal and frontal planes were similar
across splint types for cranial splints, but for lateral splints there was a 64% reduction
in frontal plane motion when FG was used as the splint material (p = 0.03).
Clinical Significance FG produces a stiffer construct, but the difference is not reflected in a reduction
in inter-fragmentary motion. For lateral splints, FG splints are associated with reduced
inter-fragmentary motion as compared with TP and may therefore have slight superiority
for this application.
Keywords
biomechanics - fracture stabilization - long bone fractures - mechanical testing -
motion analysis
