the stress-protecting effect of metal plates on the intact rabbit tibia

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to find the extent of stress-protection by a steel plate (45 × 5 × 1 mm) on the rabbit tibia. the animals were sacrificed after 6, 12 and 18 weeks. the median strength after plate application was 84, 73 and 72% respectively. the elastic stiffness of plated bones was also reduced, while the deformation at fracture showed no significant reduction. the mineral content in the bone segment previously covered by a plate was measured by photon absorptiometry; it was reduced after 12 and 18 weeks. the stress-protecting effect caused by this thin steel plate was less pronounced than that previously reported by groups using more rigid plates on rabbit tibiae. the stress-protecting effect increased up to 12 weeks, but subsequently no further increase occurred. © 1983 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.