Background: \nIn the face of costly fixation hardware with varying performance for treatment of distal humeral fractures, a novel technique (U-Frame) is proposed using conventional implants in a 180Ã?° plate arrangement. In this in-vitro study the biomechanical stability of this method was compared with the established technique which utilizes angular stable locking compression plates (LCP) in a 90Ã?° configuration.\nMethods:\nAn unstable distal 3-part fracture (AO 13-C2.3) was created in eight pairs of human cadaveric humeri. All bone pairs were operated with either the ââ?¬Å?Frameââ?¬Â technique, where two parallel plates are distally interconnected, or with the LCP technique. The specimens were cyclically loaded in simulated flexion and extension of the arm\nuntil failure of the construct occurred. Motion of all fragments was tracked by means of optical motion capturing. Construct stiffness and cycles to failure were identified for all specimens.\nResults: \nCompared to the LCP constructs, the ââ?¬Å?Frameââ?¬Â technique revealed significant higher construct stiffness in extension of the arm (P = 0.01). The stiffness in flexion was not significantly different (P = 0.16). Number of cycles to failure was found significantly larger for the ââ?¬Å?Frameââ?¬Â technique (P = 0.01).\nConclusions: \nIn an in-vitro context the proposed method offers enhanced biomechanical stability and at the same time significantly reduces implant costs.
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