External fixator-assisted plating osteosynthesis in a rabbit model of femoral bone defects appears to be a feasible and reproducible surgical technique: preliminary insights from a bone substitute study.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to assess the complications associated with the use of an external fixator-assisted plate osteosynthesis technique to stabilize a femoral bone defect in a rabbit model and to evaluate if this technique could avoid the mispositioning and the displacement of the femoral fragments during the surgical procedure. A preliminary cadaveric animal study was conducted to develop a new technique of external fixator-assisted plating. Thirty rabbits underwent a surgical procedure consisting in the creation of a femoral bone defect and, subsequently an implantation of a bone substitute through the assistance of a temporary external fixator. The fixator's ability to maintain length and alignment during surgery was documented. All intraoperative complications were prospectively collected. No complications related to the use of the temporary external fixator were reported. The technique successfully prevented mispositioning and dislocation during plating in all the rabbits. In a rabbit animal model, the use of an external fixator-assisted plate osteosynthesis technique appears to be feasible and effective in avoiding misposition and rotation of femoral fragments when performing osteotomy and plating to create a mid-diaphyseal femoral defect.