Plated and Intact Femur Strains in Fracture Fixation Using Fiber Bragg Gratings and Strain Gauges

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental methodology to determine plated and intact femur strains using fiber Bragg gratings and strain gauges. A plated and an intact synthetic femur were used and loaded under a simplistic static load of 600 N. A stainless steel (316L) plate was used to fixate a simulated 45°fracture on one femur. Strains were recoded at the same sites on both femurs. Strain shielding is shown to be more pronounced at the distal region of the plated femur. The experimental methodology based on fiber Bragg grating sensors is a novel approach to assess bone plate strains, which could also be used to obtain biologic tissue and implant surface strains in locations where conventional strain gauge use is not technically feasible.

Fiber grating sensors in medicine: Current and emerging applications

“…Strains were recorded at the same sites on both femurs and good linearity was found for different loads. As strain measurement on bone plates using SG is technically difficult and not feasible, FBGs are good alternative to assess the stiffness of callus formation of fractured bones [15].…”

Optical Fiber Gratings in Perspective of Their Applications in Biomedicine

“…. Talaia et al (2007) have first reported use of FBG sensor array to study strains in fracture fixation of synthetic femur. As strain measurement on bone plates using ESG is technically difficult and not feasible, FBGs are good alternative to assess the stiffness of callus formation of fractured bones.…”

The Evolution of the Field of Biomechanics Through the Lens of Experimental Mechanics

“…For example, one work described the properties of a composite femur under vibration [21], which has ramifications for the design and performance of new orthopedic implants. Other recent works have conducted in-depth investigations into the biomechanics of the femur in fracture fixation and into the phenomena of strain shielding [22,23]. The mechanics of trabecular bone, which is of tremendous interest due to its role in osteoporosis, has been investigated using a novel non-destructive method based on micro-computed tomography technology [24] and was also the subject of a nanoscale biomechanical study by Gao et al [25].…”