Summary
Distal radial osteotomies were performed in 20 limbs from ten cadaver specimens. Ten
bones were stabilised with two × 1.6 mm surgical bone staples and ten were stabilised
with a 2.7 mm T platea. The radii were removed and the osteotomies were biomechanically tested in torsion
initially, and then to failure in bending. Statistically significant differences were
not found between the two types of repair in torsional stiffness, bending stiffness,
deflection to failure in bending, or load to failure in bending. Orthopaedic staples
are a simple, cost-effective alternative to bone plates for stabilisation of distal
radial osteotomies.
Bilateral distal radial osteotomies were created in dog cadavers and then repaired
with either two bone staples or a 2.7 mm T plate. The limbs were then tested in vitro
to compare the relative strengths of the repairs in torsion and bending. Statistically
significant differences were not found between the two methods of stabilisation.
Keywords
Distal radial osteotomies - orthopaedic staples