Rigid sternal fixation uses cortical-screw/plate systems; however, the sternum is predominately cancellous bone. We hypothesized cancellous screws would provide better fixation in screw pullout and cyclic fatigue tests. Maximum pullout forces showed mean forces for cancellous screws were significantly higher ( 67.217710.23N) than for cortical (28.917711.74N). After 25,000 cycles, the cancellous system reached 1.16mm distraction, the cortical-screw/ plate system reached 1.55mm. These results indicate the superior performance of cancellous screws over cortical. Further research is needed to confirm trends.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Hart, Alison R.
• Flannery, Danielle L
• Decoteau, Danya Marie
• Zec, Helena C

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042606-150133

Advisor

• Dunn, Raymond
• Billiar, Kristen

Year

• 2006

Sponsor

• UMass Medical School

Date created

• 2006-04-26

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright