Journal article

Optimal time-dependent levels of weight-bearing for bone fracture healing under Ilizarov circular fixators

Ganesharajah Ganadhiepan, Saeed Miramini, Minoo Patel, Priyan Mendis, Lihai Zhang

JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS | ELSEVIER | Published : 2021

Abstract

It is known that weight-bearing exercises under Ilizarov circular fixators (ICF) could enhance bone fracture healing by mechano-regulation. However, interfragmentary movements at the fracture site induced by weight-bearing may inhibit angiogenesis and ultimately delay the healing process. To tackle this challenge, a computational model is presented in this study which considers the spatial and temporal changes in mechanical properties of fracture callus to predict optimal levels of weight-bearing during fracture healing under ICF. The study takes sheep fractures as example and shows that the developed model has the capability of predicting patient specific, time-dependent optimal levels of w..

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