Biomechanical Properties of 3-Dimensional Printed Volar Locking Distal Radius Plate: Comparison With Conventional Volar Locking Plate
Research article published in The Journal of hand surgery (2017)
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study evaluated the biomechanical properties of a new volar locking plate made by 3-dimensional printing using titanium alloy powder and 2 conventional volar locking plates under static and dynamic loading conditions that were designed to replicate those seen during fracture healing and early postoperative rehabilitation. METHODS: For all plate designs, 12 fourth-generation synthetic composite radii were fitted with volar locking plates according to the manufacturers' technique after segmental osteotomy. Each specimen was first preloaded 10 N and then was loaded to 100 N, 200 N, and 300 N in phases at a rate of 2 N/s. Each construct was then dynamically loaded for 2,000 cycles of fatigue loading in each phase for a total 10,000 cycles. Finally, the constructs were loaded to a failure at a rate of 5 mm/min. RESULTS: All 3 plates showed increasing stiffness at higher loads. The 3-dimensional printed volar locking plate showed significantly higher stiffness at all dynamic loading tests compared with the 2 conventional volar locking plates. The 3-dimensional printed volar locking plate had the highest yield strength, which was significantly higher than those of 2 conventional volar locking plates. CONCLUSIONS: A 3-dimensional printed volar locking plate has similar stiffness to conventional plates in an experimental model of a severely comminuted distal radius fracture in which the anterior and posterior metaphyseal cortex are involved. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results support the potential clinical utility of 3-dimensional printed volar locking plates in which design can be modified according the fracture configuration and the anatomy of the radius.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio biomecánico de banco de pruebas comparó una placa de bloqueo volar de aleación de titanio impresa en 3D contra dos placas convencionales en radios compuestos sintéticos bajo cargas estáticas y de fatiga cíclica, informando que la placa impresa en 3D mostró una rigidez significativamente mayor en las pruebas dinámicas y la mayor resistencia a la fluencia, comportándose de manera comparable a las placas convencionales en un modelo de fractura conminuta severa del radio distal. Su relevancia para la hirudoterapia es periférica y contextual: los procedimientos de radio distal y otros procedimientos reconstructivos/ortopédicos son escenarios en los que pueden surgir colgajos tisulares posoperatorios y congestión venosa, el nicho clínico donde se utilizan las sanguijuelas medicinales. Advertencia: este es un estudio de pruebas mecánicas de laboratorio sobre constructos óseos sintéticos, no una investigación clínica ni biológica; no involucra pacientes, tejidos blandos, sanguijuelas ni el secretoma de la sanguijuela, y la relevancia clínica citada es una inferencia de los autores a partir de datos de banco de pruebas.
Citación
Biomechanical Properties of 3-Dimensional Printed Volar Locking Distal Radius Plate: Comparison With Conventional Volar Locking Plate.
Kim et al. · The Journal of hand surgery, 2017
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 28, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026