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

J. T. Walker; M. C. Rochat; T. A. Snider; M. E. Payton

doi:10.3415/VCOT-14-01-0009

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

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

¹Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA

,

M. C. Rochat

¹Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA

,

T. A. Snider

¹Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA

,

M. E. Payton

²Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

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

Full Text

References

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