Finite element analysis of external fixator for treating femur fracture: analysis on stainless steel and titanium as material of external fixator

An external fixator device is a medical implant used to keep fractured bones stabilized and in alignment. It consists of pins which are placed into the bone, extending outside the surface of the skin, and attached to a rigid external rod to keep it in place. The aim of this study is to investigate the most suitable material used for the external fixator. Firstly, the 3D model of two unilateral uniplanar external fixator with the properties of titanium and stainless steel were constructed at Solidworks software with all the other parameters set to constant. Meanwhile, CT images of the lower limb were used to reconstruct a 3D model of the femur fracture at Mimics Medical software. Positioning and meshing of both the external fixator and the femur done at 3- Matics Medical and export as Patran for simulation at Marc Mentat software. 375 N load was applied at the most proximal femur to simulate stance phase of a gait cycle. From the findings, external fixator by using stainless steel as material properties have lower maximum von Mises Stress (18.40 MPa) at the femur and (103.69 MPa) at the fixator compared to the titanium (32.38 MPa) at the femur and (182.93 MPa) at the fixator. The result shows a difference of 75% of maximum von Mises Stress at the femur and the external fixator. Configuration by using stainless steel displaced 1.15 mm at the femur and 1.01 mm at the fixator which almost double value of displacement for titanium material for both femur (2.35 mm) and external fixator (2.11 mm). In conclusion, stainless steel external fixators provide better stability when compared to titanium external fixators

Copy number signatures and mutational processes in ovarian carcinoma.

The genomic complexity of profound copy number aberrations has prevented effective molecular stratification of ovarian cancers. Here, to decode this complexity, we derived copy number signatures from shallow whole-genome sequencing of 117 high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) cases, which were validated on 527 independent cases. We show that HGSOC comprises a continuum of genomes shaped by multiple mutational processes that result in known patterns of genomic aberration. Copy number signature exposures at diagnosis predict both overall survival and the probability of platinum-resistant relapse. Measurement of signature exposures provides a rational framework to choose combination treatments that target multiple mutational processes.NIHR, Ovarian Cancer Action, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, Cambridge Experimental Cancer Medicine Centr

Sulfur dioxide removal by mesoporous silica KCC-1 modified with low-coverage metal nitrates

The removal of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from flue gas using fibrous mesoporous silica KCC-1 synthesized via microwave-assisted hydrothermal method was observed. The sorbent was modified by introducing nitrate salts of sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) at 5 wt. % metal loading via incipient wet impregnation method. The SO2breakthrough experiment was conducted in a vertical quartz-column reactor at atmospheric pressure and temperature of 323 K in the presence of 0.3 % SO2/N2. The SEM micrograph of KCC-1 exhibited a well-defined fibrous morphology consisting of colloidal spheres of 240-1160 nm in diameter. Addition of metal nitrates resulted in the reduction of surface area, total pore volume and minor breakage of the silica framework. The adsorption capacities of all samples were measured at C/C0= 0.5, where the addition of sodium (Na5/KCC-1) and calcium (Ca5/KCC-1) enhanced the removal capacity by 1.88 and 2 times higher than the parent KCC-1 respectively. Even though sodium is expected to achieve better removal capacity due to its higher basicity and dispersion related to the lower crystallite size, its performance ultimately suffered from significant agglomeration of sodium oxide which created pore blockage, subsequently resulting in poor accessibility to the active sites

A finite element study: Finding the best configuration between unilateral, hybrid, and ilizarov in terms of biomechanical point of view

In an open fracture, the external fixator is one of the definitive treatment options as it could provide the initial stabilisation of the fractured bone. Limited literature discussing on the biomechanical stability between unilateral, hybrid and Ilizarov configurations, principally in treating a femoral fracture. Thus, this study aims to analyse the biomechanical stability of different external fixators via the finite element method (FEM). The present study portrays that different configurations of fixators possess different biomechanical stability, hence leading to different healing rates and complication risks. For the methodology, three-dimensional models of three different external fixators were reconstructed where axial loads were applied on the proximal end of the femur, simulating the stance phase. From the results, the unilateral configuration provides better stability compared to the hybrid and Ilizarov, where it displaced the least with an average percentage difference of 50% for the fixator's frame and 23% for the bone. The unilateral configuration also produced the least interfragmentary movement (0.48 mm) as compared to hybrid (0.62 mm) and Ilizarov (0.61 mm) configurations. Besides, the strain and stress of the unilateral configuration were superior in terms of stability compared to the other two configurations. As a conclusion, the unilateral configuration had the best biomechanical stability as it was able to assist the bone healing process as well as minimising the risk of pin tract infection while treating a femoral fracture

Unilateral external fixator and its biomechanical effects in treating different types of femoral fracture: A finite element study with experimental validated model

Previous works had successfully demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of unilateral external fixator in treating various types of fracture, ranging from the simple type, such as oblique and transverse fractures, to complex fractures. However, literature that investigated its biomechanical analyses to further justify its efficacy is limited. Therefore, this paper aimed to analyse the stability of unilateral external fixator for treating different types of fracture, including the simple oblique, AO32C3 comminuted, and 20 mm gap transverse fracture. These fractures were reconstructed at the distal diaphysis of the femoral bone and computationally analysed through the finite element method under the stance phase condition. Findings showed a decrease in the fixation stiffness in large gap fracture (645.2 Nmm-1 for oblique and comminuted, while 23.4 Nmm-1 for the gap fracture), which resulted in higher displacement, IFM and stress distribution at the pin bone interface. These unfavourable conditions could consequently increase the risk of delayed union, pin loosening and infection, as well as implant failure. Nevertheless, the stress observed on the fracture surfaces was relatively low and in controlled amount, indicating that bone unity is still allowable in all models. Briefly, the unilateral fixation may provide desirable results in smaller fracture gap, but its usage in larger gap fracture might be alarming. These findings could serve as a guide and insight for surgeons and researchers, especially on the biomechanical stability of fixation in different fracture types and how will it affect bone unity