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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2014; 27(04): 249-256
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-14-01-0009
Original Research
Schattauer GmbH

The relevance of threaded external skeletal fixation pin insertion speed in canine bone with and without predrilling

J. T. Walker
1   Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
,
M. C. Rochat
1   Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
,
T. A. Snider
1   Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
,
M. E. Payton
2   Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
› Author Affiliations Financial support This study was made possible through funding from the Cohn Family Chair for Small Animals and the Oklahoma State University, Research Advisory Committee. Parts of this work were carried out in the Microscopy Laboratory, Oklahoma State University, which received funds for purchasing the equipment from the NSF MRI program.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 20 January 2014

Accepted: 26 April 2014

Publication Date:
20 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Objectives: The effects of insertion speed in revolutions per minute (RPM) and pilot hole predrilling for placement of threaded external skeletal fixation pins on temperature and morphological damage in cortical bone were evaluated. The null hypothesis states that insertion speed and predrilling will have no significant effect on temperature and morphological damage.

Methods: Fixation pins were inserted into cadaveric canine femurs at speeds of 700 RPM and 150 RPM, with and without predrilling. Temperature was measured at each cortex 0.5 mm and 3.0 mm from each insertion site. Samples were examined grossly and by scanning electron microscopy for evidence of morphological damage. Data were analysed for maximum temperature, temperature increase, sites above thermal necrosis thresholds, microcracks, thread quality and gross damage.

Results: Predrilling had a significant effect on maximum temperature, temperature increase, sites exceeding necrosis thresholds, microcracks, thread quality and gross damage. Speed of insertion had no significant effect on any of the measured parameters following predrilling, but had a significant effect on thread quality without predrilling.

Clinical significance: Our results fail to reject the null hypothesis concerning insertion speed, which had no significant effect on thermal damage, and minimal effect on morphological damage, which was negated by predrilling. Our results reject the null hypothesis concerning predrilling and support the practice of predrilling fixation pin insertion sites.

Keywords

Fixation pins - insertion speed - predrill - osteonecrosis