Parametric stress-concentration factors in greenstick bone fracture.

The reported work is a part of an ongoing research program concerned with structural analysis of fractured long bone and methods of internal fixation. The stress-concentration factors for equine metacarpus bones containing greenstick fractures and 'through' fractures (surgically repaired) were determined for the compression, flexural and torsional modes of loading based on whole bone (unfractured) strengths. The greenstick type of fracture was simulated with saw cuts at the mid-span of the bone, and the parameters varied were depth of fracture and orientation of fracture. All specimens consisted of fresh dead bone which had been placed in a freezer within 4 hr after expiration. The maximum stress-concentration factors for the simulated greenstick fractures studied were about 3.4 for compression, 4.3 for torsion and 16 for flexure. The stressconcentration factors for fractured bones surgically repaired with commercial plates were about 3.0 for compression, 2.7 for torsion and 6.1 for flexure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]