Foot Ankle Int. 1994 Jun;15(6):297-300
Dohm MP, Benjamin JB, Harrison J, Szivek JA
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A biomechanical study was undertaken to evaluate the relative stability of three types of internal fixation used for ankle arthrodesis.
METHODS: Crossed screw fixation, RAF fibular strut fixation, and T-plate fixation were tested in 30 cadaver ankles using an MTS machine. T-plate fixation consistently provided the stiffest construct when compared with the other types of fixation.
RESULTS: Failure occurred by distraction of bony surfaces, posterior to the plane of fixation, in the crossed screw and RAF groups. In contrast, failure in the T-plate group occurred through compression of bone anterior to the midcoronal plane of the tibia.
CONCLUSION: Although the stability of fixation is only one factor in determining the success or failure of ankle arthrodesis, the results of this study would support T-plate fixation over the other forms tested.
Copyright © 1994 (Foot Ankle Int. Jun;15(6):297-300) by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, Inc., originally published in Foot & Ankle International, and reproduced here with permission.