COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EXTRAMEDULLARY OSTEOSYNTHESIS FOR TIBIAL PLATEAU FRACTURES: A FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

Resumo

This study presents a comparative structural finite element analysis of two different fixa-
tion methods for high energy tibial plateau fractures: through conventional plates and screws and using

blocked plates with locking head screws. The project consists on the modelling of the assemblies in a
CAD environment based on the images from a computed tomography (CT). Autodesk Fusion 360
c was
used to perform the CAD step. Afterwards, finite element analysis was performed in both assemblies.
This type of analysis allows a great modelling versatility and also a great level of correlation between its
results and the expected physical behaviour of the structure evaluated. Altair HyperWorks

c was chosen

to pre-process and post-process the analysis and Abaqus CAE

c for solving. The comparison parameter
chosen to drive the results is the displacement of the bone fragments over the fracture border. Smaller
relative displacements between the bone fragments are desirable for a shorter recovery time, since this
condition provides the required stability for the bone to regenerate and consolidate without defects. The
model was built considering the boundary conditions foreseen in specific bibliography and submitted to
a vertical compressive load of 3224,5 N. The osteosynthesis of blocked plates with locking head screws
showed the best results since it presented inferior relative displacements over the fracture border.