Comparative Study of the Orthofix and Pittsburgh Frames for External Fixation of Unstable Pelvic Ring Fractures

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Abstract
We compared the mechanical performance of the Orthofix pelvic external fixator with that of the Pittsburgh triangular frame (PTF) on eight fresh-frozen cadaver pelves with experimentally created Malgaigne (doublevertical) fracture/dislocations. The pelves were quasi-statically loaded in longitudinal compression and loss of reduction (i.e., failure) was defined as 1.5 cm of diastasis at either of the fracture/dislocation sites. The Orthofix framepelvis complex (four 6-mm half-pins) was comparable to the PTF-pelvis complex (eight 5-mm half-pins) in terms of load to failure and overall stiffness, but was 4-7 times stiffer at lower load levels. Both frame-and-pin complexes deformed moderately at the pin-bone interface, but, while the PTF also showed moderate displacement between frame components, the Orthofix had almost no frame intercomponent motion.

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