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Effect of Wire Tension on Stiffness of Tensioned Fine Wires in External Fixation: A Mechanical Study
Am J Orthop. 2007 September;36(9):473-476
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Valentin Antoci, MD, PhD, Michael J. Voor, PhD, Valentin Antoci, Jr., BS, and Craig S. Roberts, MD
Dr. Antoci is Orthopaedic Trauma Fellow, and Dr. Voor is Associate Professor and Director of Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.
Mr. Antoci is Medical Student (MD/PhD Candidate), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Roberts is Professor and Residency Director, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.
To determine the effect of changes in magnitude of transfixion wire tension on stiffness of fine-wire external-fixation load deformation, we compared results obtained with different wire tensions (50-140 kg) under identical conditions of central axial compression, medial compression-bending, posterior compression- bending, posteromedial compression-bending, and torsion. Stiffness values were calculated from the load-deformation and torque-angle curves. Tension of 140 kg provided the most stiffness, and there was a trend toward increasing overall stiffness with increasing wire tension. The 1.8-mm wires should be tensioned to at least 110 kg in most cases of fine-wire external fixation; compared with all tensions less than 110 kg, this tension provides significantly more mechanical stability in all loading modes.