The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a reinforced gamma nail for the fixation of subtrochanteric fractures would experience less stress during loading compared with a common gamma nail. The issue of whether the use of the stronger implant would result in more stress shielding in the surrounding bone was also addressed. A finite element analysis (FEA) of a synthetic bone was employed to calculate the stress distribution in implant and bone for two fracture types (AO 31-A3.1 and AO 31-A3.3). The FEA was validated by mechanical tests on six synthetic femurs. To test the hypothesis in vitro, mechanical tests on six pairs of fresh-frozen human femurs were conducted. The femurs were supplied with a common or a reinforced gamma nail in a cross-over study design. Strains were measured on the nail shaft to quantify the loading of the nail. The FEA resulted in 3-51 per cent lower stresses for the reinforced gamma nail. No increase in stress shielding could be observed. In the in-vitro tests, the reinforced gamma nail experienced less strain during loading (p < 0.016). The study demonstrated the benefit of a reinforced gamma nail in subtrochanteric fractures. It experienced less stress but did not result in more stress shielding.

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Despite continued improvement in the methods and devices used to treat intertrochanteric fractures, there remains an unacceptable amount of failures. The cut-out rate for hip screws has been recorded up to 8.3%. To evaluate the migration of different implants under physiological loads, a multiplanar biomechanical test method for hip screws was developed, the first to incorporate a simulation of the human gait cycle by an oscillating flexion/extension movement of the test device. The new method was used to compare different hip screw and blade designs with respect to their directional migration resistance. The test method generated failure modes that were consistent with those observed clinically. Under cyclic loading, the hip screws migrated predominantly in a cephalad direction. In contrast, the helical blades exhibited a distinct migration in their axial direction. The Gamma3 hip screw design showed a significantly higher migration resistance compared with other screw and helical blade designs. The results demonstrate the ability of hip screws to significantly reduce axial migration and prevent cut-out under simulated walking loads. Further, the new multiplanar test method creates a physiological environment that can be used to optimize designs for intertrochanteric fracture fixation. ß

The choice of the appropriate implant continues to be critical for fixation of unstable hip fractures. Therefore, the goal of this study was to develop a numerical model to investigate the mechanical performance of hip fracture osteosynthesis. We hypothesized that decreasing fracture stability results in increasing load share of the implant and therefore higher stress within the implant. We also investigated the relationship of interfragmentary movement to the fracture stability. A finite element model was developed for a cephalomedullary nail within a synthetic femur and simulated a pertrochanteric fracture, a lateral neck fracture, and a subtrochanteric fracture. The femur was loaded with a hip force and was constrained physiologically. The FE model was validated by mechanical experiments. All three fractures resulted in similar values for stiffness (462-528 N/mm). The subtrochanteric fracture resulted in the highest local stress (665 MPa), and the pertrochanteric fracture resulted in a lower stress (621 MPa) with even lower values for the lateral neck fracture (480 MPa). Thus, intramedullary implants can stabilize unstable hip fractures with almost the same amount of stiffness as seen in stable fractures, but they have to bear a higher load share, resulting in higher stresses in the implant.

The IM nails with compression used for TTCF produced good contact surfaces and primary stiffness. They were significantly superior in these respects to the uncompressed nails and the screw construct. The large contact surfaces and great primary stiffness provided by the IM nails in a bone model may translate into improved union rates in patients who have TTCF.