Biomechanical comparison of CRIF and reconstruction plate for stabilization of distal femur fractures in dogs

Abstract

This study aims to compare the biomechanical properties, through compression eccentric test, of the resistance of the 5.0mm Clamp and Rod Internal Fixation Implants (CRIF) and 3.5mm reconstruction plate in fixing dog femur distal fracture. It was used 22 femurs from 11 dog cadavers with age between 2 and 7 years old and body weight between 20 and 40kg, subdivided into two groups, called CRIF Group (CG - 11 femurs) and plate group (PG - 11 femurs). A distal fracture in the specimens with a gap of 0.5cm osteotomy, was simulated to perform the test, performed by the oscillating saw, just proximal to the beginning of the trochlea. The implants were fixed by the standards AO / SIF, laterally to the femur, using three distal screws and five proximal to the fracture site. PMI computer program was used to calculate the maximum point of resistance before failure and evaluated the variables maximum strength, real maximum deformation, stiffness, intermediate strength and real intermediate deformation. No statistically significant differences were found between the GC and GP as the variables evaluated, suggesting that both implants are good fixation options for such fractures.