نشریه علمی مهندسی پزشکی زیستی

Determining the optimal arrangement of screws in the fixation of femoral neck fractures

Document Type : Full Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Yazd, Yazd, Iran

3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

4 Trauma Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Abstract
Femoral neck fracture is one of the most common fractures at different ages. Various treatment methods are available to stabilize femoral neck fractures, often using a variety of orthopedic screws. The standard treatment involves the use of cancellous screws and the application of preloading force to keep the fractured parts together. However, one of the main challenges in this method is the long-term stability of the screw arrangement. Locking screws, when used with a plate, play a significant role in maintaining stability; however, their use alone reduces the compressive force at the fracture site. In this study, a combination of cancellous and locking screws is utilized to achieve both adequate compression and sufficient stability. In the following, the compression and relative displacement in fractured components for different arrangements of cancellous and self-locking screws, as well as their combinations, were compared using the finite element method to determine the optimal arrangement. Simulation results indicated that combining both types of screws in a single arrangement provides the best compression and stability. Compression should be applied at the upper region of the bone because this area is subjected to tensile forces due to the weight loading on the bone, which can lead to separation. Therefore, it is recommended to use cancellous screws at the upper part of the bone to achieve adequate compression in this area, while self-locking screws apply at the lower part to reduce relative displacement in the fractured components and enhance overall stability

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Volume 18, Issue 3
Autumn 2024
Pages 219-231

  • Receive Date 15 December 2024
  • Revise Date 26 April 2025
  • Accept Date 07 May 2025