Increased peak contact stress after incongruent reduction of transverse acetabular fractures: a cadaveric model. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the peak contact pressure with varying degrees of articular cartilage step-off in a transtectal acetabular fracture model. METHODS: Five fresh frozen cadaveric hip joints were potted in a custom loading fixture. The five specimens were then tested at loads of 445 N (newton) (100 lb) and 1,335 N (300 lb) intact and after a transverse osteotomy at step-off levels from 0 to 5 mm in 1-mm increments. RESULTS: Articular cartilage step-off of greater than 1 mm led to significantly increased contact stress at the loaded acetabular articular surface. Mean peak pressure measured at 1,335 N of loading in all intact specimens before the osteotomy was approximately 10 MPa. Peak pressure after a transverse acetabular fracture did not change when the fracture was perfectly reduced. At 1 mm of step-off, the peak pressure increased by approximately 20% but was not statistically significant. With step-off of > 2 mm or greater, the peak pressure increase was approximately 50% and was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: On the basis of our study, transverse acetabular fractures with greater than 1 mm of displacement can lead to significant increase in peak pressure at the articular surface.

publication date

  • October 1, 2001

Research

keywords

  • Acetabulum
  • Cartilage, Articular
  • Fractures, Bone
  • Hip Joint
  • Weight-Bearing

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0034765221

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1097/00005373-200110000-00013

PubMed ID

  • 11586162

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 51

issue

  • 4