ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the biomechanical performance of three different fixation instruments for tibial fractures.Methods Fourteen fresh tibial specimens were made into models of oblique fracture.Seven models were fixed with unilateral axial dynamic fixation(UADF),and seven with limited contact dynamic compression plate(LC-DCP).After biomechanical tests had been done for the UADF group,an extra screw was used at the oblique fracture site to reinforce the fixation with extra limited internal fixation.Each model was tested for its hiomechanical performance in resisting compression,bending and rotation.Results The performance of UADF was significantly poorer than that of LC-DCP and UADF with limited internal fixation in anti-compression,an- ti-bending and anti-rotation(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the rigidity between LC-DCP and UADF with limited internal fixation(P＞0.05).Conclusion UADF with extra limited internal fixation is a recommendable method for tihial fractures because it cart provide the same effective fixation as LC-DCP does.