Objective: To assess the biomechanical parameters of intact tibiotarsi (INT) and tibiotarsi with a 5-mm segmental diaphyseal defect repaired using four osteosynthesis techniques: a locking plate (LP), a plate-rod combination, an external skeletal fixator (one end-threaded positive-profile pin per fragment) with an intramedullary pin tie-in (TIF 1), and an external skeletal fixator (two end-threaded positive-profile pins per fragment) with an intramedullary pin tie-in (TIF 2).
Study design: Sixty tibiotarsi from 30 adult laying hens were allocated into five groups for nondestructive dynamic torsion and four-point bending tests, followed by failure tests. Nondestructive dynamic tests evaluated stiffness over time in torsion and bending. Torsion destructive tests provided maximum torque and rotation values, whereas the four-point bending tests provided the yield load, maximum bending load, and maximum displacement.
Results: The INT group showed higher torsional stiffness and maximum torque but similar bending stiffness, torsional strength, and bending strength in one or more groups. LP and TIF 2 exhibited the highest similarity frequencies among the treatment groups, whereas the TIF 1 group displayed lower stiffness and strength for most of the evaluated parameters.
Conclusion: Similar results for LP and TIF-2 groups suggest the biomechanical equivalence of these methods for tibiotarsal osteosynthesis in adult hens.
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