Ex vivo evaluation of polyethylene cable compared to stainless steel cerclage wire in a canine fracture model

Seila Day¹Steve Elder²Wilson Cooper Brookshire¹Michael Jaffe^1*

• ¹College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, United States
• ²Bagley College of Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, United States

Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare the biomechanical stability of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) orthopedic cable system to stainless steel cerclage wire (SSW) fixation in cyclic four-point bending in a cadaveric fracture model.Materials and Methods: A long oblique osteotomy model was employed using paired canine cadaveric femurs. The osteotomies were stabilized with either three UHMWPE cables (n=10) or three 18 gauge stainless steel loop cerclage wires (n=10). Cyclic testing was performed by applying increasing force at 2 Hz until construct failure, defined as ≥2mm of actuator displacement. Data analyzed included cycles to failure, load at failure, and dynamic stiffness.Results: There was no statistically significant difference in any of the outcomes tested between constructs. Visible loosening was noted in all loop cerclage constructs. No visible loosening of the UHMWPE cable was noted.Discussion: The results suggest that the UHMWPE cable’s resistance to failure was comparable to SSW in four-point bending. Additional biomechanical testing would be needed to assess for statistical significance as well as performance in torsion and compression or with adjunctive fixation methods. Future clinical studies in veterinary applications are needed to assess how the UHMWPE cable performs in vivo.