Two new intramedullary implant designs for phalanx fixation in digital replantation: An experimental study

Bone fixation in digital replantation must provide adequate rigidity, and m ust be applied in a fast and easy manner. Various fixation methods have bee n used so far with certain advantages and disadvantages. The authors report two new intramedullary proximal phalangeal implant designs to secure two a mputated hone segments tightly. They compare their intramedullary implants with commonly applied K-wire fixation methods and plate fixation via biomec hanical analysis in terms of bending rigidity and distraction strength. The ir two-sided asymmetrical screw provided the highest rigidity and distracti on strength, whereas the hook-trap system was nearly equal to cross-K-wire fixation, Intramedullary bone fixation may be a feasible method of bone fix ation, and resorbable implant materials and different implant configuration s deserve further investigation.