Alexander Jahnke

The influence of cryopreservation and quick-freezing on the mechanical properties of tendons

In order to maintain their native properties, cryopreserved tendons are usually used in biomechanical research and in transplantation of allogenic tendon grafts. The use of different study protocols leads to controversy in literature and thus complicates the evaluation of the current literature. The aim of this study consisted in examining the influence of different freezing and thawing temperatures on the mechanical properties of tendons. 60 porcine tendons were frozen at either -80°C or -20°C for 7days and thawed at room or body temperature for 240 or 30min, respectively. A subgroup of ten tendons was quick-frozen with liquid nitrogen (-196°C) for 2s before cryopreservation. Biomechanical testing was performed with a material testing machine and included creep, cyclic and load-to-failure tests. The results showed that freezing leads to a reduced creep strain after constant loading and to an increased secant modulus. Freezing temperature of -80°C increased the secant modulus and decreased the strain at maximum stress, whereas thawing at room temperature reduced the maximum stress, the strain at initial tendon failure and the Youngs Modulus. Quick-freezing led to increased creep strain after constant loading, increased strain at initial failure in the load-to-failure test, and decreased strain at maximum stress. When cryopreserving, tendons for scientific or medical reasons, freezing temperature of -20°C and thawing temperature of 37.5°C are recommended to maintain the native properties of tendons. A treatment with liquid nitrogen in the sterilization process of tendon allografts is inadvisable because it alters the tendon properties negatively.

Influence of cerclages on primary stability of tumor megaprostheses subjected to distal femur defects

BACKROUND Purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the influence of cerclages on the primary stability of the MUTARS system using distally fractured synthetic femora. METHODS 4 MUTARS prostheses were implanted in synthetic femora respectively. Groups consisted of 4 intact bones, 4 fractured with cerclages and 4 fractured bones without cerclages. Spatial micromovements were measured with a high-precision rotational setup. FINDINGS The order from the weakest to the strongest torque transmission of the intact bones was rm1-rm4-rm2-rm3 (p=0.011) and of the fractured bones with cerclages rm4-rm1-rm3-rm2 (p=0.013). The MUTARS stems broke out of the fractured femoral shaft by removing cerclages (p<0.001) and by the influence of bone defect A (p<0.001). Overall micromovements of the intact bones were lower than those of the fractured bones without cerclages (p<0.001) and overall micromovements of the fractured bones with cerclages were lower than those of bones without cerclages (p<0.001). INTERPRETATION Due to high press-fit at the proximal and distal isthmus region fissural fractures of the femur may occur. This should always be taken into account. It is advisable to secure them and provide a prophylaxis for these fissural fractures by means of cerclages.

Fixation pattern of conical and cylindrical modular revision hip stems in different size bone defects

PurposeFemoral defects often make it difficult to achieve sufficient fixation of the stem during revision surgery. No clinical studies comparing modular stems are available and differentiated recommendations are rare. The aim of this study was to compare the fixation of different revision stems in an experimental and standardised manner.MethodsSegmental AAOS type I and III defects were reproduced in four femur pairs and two modular stems of different shape (cylindrical and conical) were implanted. Interfacial stem–bone movements were measured under axial torque application to analyze the stem fixation depending on defect extension.ResultsBoth stems showed adequate fixation in AAOS type I defect. The defect extension significantly reduced the fixation of both implants. The fixation pattern changed significantly for the cylindrical-shaped stem but was maintained for the conical-shaped stem.ConclusionsShape as well as the extension of femoral defect have an impact on primary fixation. A type I defect seems to be bridgeable for both stems albeit in a different way. In contrast, stem-demanding activities during the healing phase have to be avoided for the conical-shaped stem in a type III defect, whereas the cylindrical-shaped stem has already ceased to be sufficiently stable in this case.

Effect of bearing friction torques on the primary stability of press-fit acetabular cups: A novel in vitro method: THE EFFECT OF BEARING FRICTION TORQUES

Aseptic loosening is the main reason for revision of total hip arthroplasty, and relative micromotions between cementless acetabular cups and bone play an important role regarding their comparatively high loosening rate. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of resulting frictional torques on the primary stability of press‐fit acetabular cups subjected to two different bearing partners. A cementless press‐fit cup was implanted in bone‐like foam. Primary stability of the cup was analyzed by determining spatial total, translational, and rotational interface micromotions by means of an eddy current sensor measuring system. Torque transmission into the cup was realized by three synchronous servomotors considering resultant friction torques based on constant friction for ceramic‐on‐ceramic (CoC: μ = 0.044; max. resultant torque: 1.5 Nm) and for ceramic‐on‐polyethylene (CoP: μ = 0.063; max. resultant torque: 1.9 Nm) bearing partners. Rotational micromotion of CoC was 8.99 ± 0.85 µm and of CoP 13.39 ± 1.43 µm. Translational micromotion of CoC was 29.93 ± 1.44 μm and of CoP 39.91 ± 2.25 μm. Maximum total relative micromotions were 37.10 ± 1.07 μm for CoC and 51.64 ± 2.18 μm for CoP. Micromotions resulting from CoC were statistically lower than those resulting from CoP (p < 0.05). The described 3D‐measuring set‐up offers a novel in vitro method of measuring primary stability of acetabular cups. We can therefore conclude, that primary stability of acetabular cup systems can be observed using either the lower friction curve (CoC) or the higher friction curve (CoP). In future studies different cup designs or cup fixation mechanisms may be tested and compared in vitro and assessed prior to implantation.

The effect of phosphoric and phosphonic acid primers on bone cement bond strength to total hip stem alloys.

Aseptic loosening at alloy-cement interfaces constitutes a main failure mechanism of cemented total hip replacements (THR). As a potential solution we investigated the effect of metal primers containing phosphoric and phosphonic acid on shear bond strength (SBS) of bone cement to THR alloys (CoCrMo, TiAlNb) and pure tin (Sn) substrates (20×8×3 mm). Metal surfaces were modified by polishing or Al2O3 blasting and primer application. Substrates without primer treatment served as references. Cylindrical cement pins (Ø 5mm) were polymerised onto substrate surfaces and aging (1, 5, 14 and 150 days) was simulated in aqueous NaCl solution (0.9%) before SBS determination and failure mode evaluation. Regardless of surface roughness and aging time, SBS for THR alloys and Sn was always significantly higher with primer treatment. Compared to untreated reference specimens (≤0.2MPa) SBS values increased even up to 350 fold (TiAlNb, 14 days) or 400 fold (CoCrMo, 5 days). In general, the phosphoric acid containing primer revealed significant higher SBS values on THR alloys compared to the phosphonic acid containing one. Al2O3 blasted specimens showed generally higher SBS values than polished ones with the exception of Sn which showed high SBS values in general. With primer treatment on polished Sn a significant reduction of SBS could not be detected even up to 150 days, whereas THR alloys showed only an SBS improvement in the short term (≤14 days). A NaCl-pitting corrosion probably led to an increasing and durable SBS on polished Sn surfaces over time. Compared to modern THR in clinical practice that shows survival rates of 10, 15, 20 or more years, the receivable bond strength enhancements described in this study appeared to be very short. The improved SBS on THR alloys lasted only a few days before it was lost again. In contrast, the phosphoric acid primer treatment of polished Sn appeared to be very promising and may play a key role in further investigations dealing with the prevention of the stem-cement debonding in THR.