Comparison of tension band wire and cancellous bone screw fixation for medial malleolar fractures.

Johnson, B A; Fallat, L M · J Foot Ankle Surg · 1997

biomechanical · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

A comparison study of the relative strength of tension-band fixation versus cancellous bone screw fixation of medial malleolar ankle fractures was performed on ten fresh-frozen lower limbs from five cadavers. The mean force recorded at clinical failure using cancellous screws was 60.98 N (range 33.49 to 117.86 N) compared with 129.30 N using tension-band fixation (range 85.20 to 194.64 N). Therefore, cancellous screws exhibited only 47.16% the strength of tension-band wiring at clinical failure.

Medical subject headings

Anatomy