Advertisement
Research Article| Volume 26, SUPPLEMENT 2, B1-B4, 1995

Basic concepts relevant to the design and development of the point Contact Fixator (PC-Fix)

      This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.

      Abstract

      The PC-Fix represents a novel approach to internal fixation. It has been designed for the optimal preservation of biology, to enhance fracture healing, and to improve resistance to infection. The PC-Fix can be understood functionally as a completely implanted external fixator. Although the PC-Fix resembles a plate, its biological and mechanical characteristics are different.
      The implant has minimal contact to the bone. Instead of pressing the splint onto the bone to produce friction, the atraumatic monocortical screws act as pegs connecting the splint to the bone. Force transmission by friction is abolished, therefore, the contact to the bone can be minimized.
      Ease of application is enhanced by a specially designed distractor. The function of the distractor is based on hinges which permit and maintain the reduction of the fracture fragments while the axes are aligned and rotation adjusted.

      Keywords

      To read this article in full you will need to make a payment

      Purchase one-time access:

      Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online access
      One-time access price info
      • For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
      • For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'

      Subscribe:

      Subscribe to Injury
      Already a print subscriber? Claim online access
      Already an online subscriber? Sign in
      Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect

      References

        • Predieri M.
        • Gautier E.
        • Sutter F.
        • Tepic S.
        • Perren S.M.
        Vermeidung der Porose unter Osteosyntheseplatten.
        Acta med. Austriaca (Suppl.). 1990; 40: 48-49
        • Müller M.E.
        • Allgöwer M.
        • Willenegger H.
        Technik der operativen Frakturbehandlung.
        Springer, Berlin Göttingen Heidelberg1963
        • Perren S.M.
        • et al.
        The reaction of cortical bone to compression.
        Acta Orthop. Scand. Suppl. 1969; 125: 19-29
        • Klaue K.
        • Perren S.M.
        Design of the LC-DCP precursor plate, the DCU.
        in: Perren S.M. The concept of biological plating using the limited contact-dynamic compression plate (LC-DCP). 4th Ed. Injury. 22. 1991: 8-10 (Suppl.1)
        • Perren S.M.
        • et al.
        The concept of biological plating using the limited contact-dynamic compression plate (LCDCP).
        Injury. 1991; 22
        • Gautier E.
        • Cordey J.
        • Mathys R.
        • Rahn B.A.
        • Perren S.M.
        Porosity and remodelling of plated bone after internal fixation; Result of stress shielding or vascular damage?.
        in: Elsevier Science, Amsterdam1984: 195-200
        • Gautier E.
        • Perren S.M.
        Die Limited Contact Dynamic Compression Plate (LC-DCP) — Biomechanische Forschung als Grundlage des neuen Plattendesigns.
        Orthopade. 1992; 21: 11-23
        • Baumg→tel F.
        • Perren S.M.
        • Rahn B.A.
        Animal experiment studies of “biological” plate osteosynthesis of multifragment fractures of the femur.
        Unfallchirurg. 1994; 97: 19-27
        • Frankle M.
        • Foglar C.
        • Tepic S.
        A comparison of the effects of cancellous autologous bone graft, tricalcium phosphate, and screws on healing of cortical defects.
        38th Ann. Meet. Orthop. Res. Soc. 1992; : 583
        • Lippuner K.
        • Vogel R.
        • Rahn B.A.
        • Cordey J.
        • Perren S.M.
        Effect of animal species and age on plate-induced vascular damage in cortical bone.
        Arch. Orthop. Trauma Surg. 1992; 111: 78-84
        • Miclau T.
        • Remiger A.
        • Tepic S.
        • Lindsey R.
        • McIff T.
        A mechanical comparison of the dynamic compression plate, limited contact-dynamic compression plate, and point contact fixator.
        J. Orthop. Trauma. 1995; 9: 17-22
        • Monney G.
        • Predieri M.
        • Tepic S.
        • Cordey J.
        • Perren S.M.
        Etude de la perfusion et du remodelage osseux, lors de l'application de differentes plaques utilisdes en clinique, chez le mouton in vivo.
        in: 15th Congress of the SB Société Biomécanique. 1990: 140-141
      1. Van Frank Haasnoot E, Münch WH, Matter P, Perren SM. Radiological sequences of healing in internal plates and splints of different contact surface to bone (DCP, LC-DCP, and PC-Fix). In: Perren SM. Point Contact Fixator: Part I. Injury 26 (Suppl. 2)36–44.

        • Plavljanic M.
        • van Frank Haasnoot E.
        • Remiger A.
        • Tepic S.
        • Perren S.M.
        Fracture healing with a silicone padded point contact plate.
        in: 4th Ed. Internal Report. AO Research Institute, Davos1992
      2. Tepic S, Remiger AR, Morikawa K, Predieri M, Perren SM. Strength recovery in fractured sheep tibia treated with a plate or an internal fixator: An experimental study with a two year follow-up. J. Orthop. Trauma (in press)

      3. Auer JA, Lischer, Ch, Kaegi B, Iselin U, Fürst Th, Matter G. Application of the PC-Fix in large animals. In: Perren SM. Point Contact Fixator: Part I. Injury 26 (Suppl. 2): 45–54

      4. Savoldelli D, Montavon PM. Clinical handling: small animals. In: Perren SM. Point Contact Fixator: Part I. Injury 26 (Suppl. 2):55–58.

        • Wilson J.W.
        • Rhinelander F.W.
        • Stewart C.L.
        Microvascular and histologic effect of circumferential wire on appositional bone growth in immature dogs.
        J. Orthop. Res. 1985; 3: 412-417
      5. Gautier E, Rahn BA, Perren SM. Vascular remodelling. In: Perren SM. Point Contact Fixator: Part I. Injury 26 (Suppl. 2):11–19.

      6. Tepic S, Perren SM. The biomechanics of the PC-Fix internal fixator. In: Perren SM. Point Contact Fixator: Part I. Injury 26 (Suppl. 2):5–10.

      7. Bresina SJ, Tepic S. FEA for the PC-Fix — screw drive, plate design, overcuts. In: Perren SM. Point Contact Fixator: Part I. Injury 26 (Suppl. 2):20–23.

        • Müller M.E.
        • Allgöwer M.
        • Schneider R.
        • Willenegger H.
        4th Ed. Manual of internal fixation. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York1991
        • Perren S.M.
        • Boitzy A.
        La differenciation cellulaire et la biomecanique de l'os.
        Anat. Clin. 1978; 1: 13-28
      8. Bishop N, Tepic S, Bresina SJ. A distractor for fracture reduction with minimal subsidiary handling forces. In: Perren SM. Point Contact Fixator: Part I. Injury 26 (Suppl. 2):24–27.