PREVENTION OF LONGITUDINAL CRACK-PROPAGATION AROUND A FEMORAL PROSTHESIS - A STUDY OF CERCLAGE WIRE FIXATION

This study examined the effect of single versus triple-wrap cerclage f ixation techniques in preventing propagation of a longitudinal fractur e around a cementless femoral prosthesis. A proximal filling femoral c omponent was implanted in 14 matched pairs of fresh-frozen bovine femo ra, following placement of a 45-mm longitudinal crack in the anteromed ial cortical wall of the proximal femur. In one group of seven pairs, a single cerclage wire was applied to one specimen of each pair. A tri ple-wrap of a single cerclage wire was similarly placed in one specime n of each of the other seven pairs. All specimens were axially loaded on a materials testing system machine and the force required to propag ate the fracture of the proximal femur was recorded. A triple-wrap cer clage technique required a significant increase in the force to propag ate a proximal femur fracture around a non-cemented prosthesis when co mpared to a single cerclage wire.