Fracture reduction has a dominant effect over cerclage wiring in increasing stiffness of intertrochanteric OTA/AO 31-A3.1 (reverse oblique) fractures managed with cephalomedullary osteosynthesis

Objectives To investigate the mechanical properties of cephalomedullary nailing of intertrochanteric OTA/AO 31-A3.1 (reverse oblique) fractures and to test the hypothesis that anatomical reduction and augmentation with cerclage wire produces a more stable construct. Methods A standardized fracture model in composite saw bone was created to stimulate an intertrochaneric 31-A3.1 fracture, using a 3D printed cutting guide. Simulated osteosynthesis was performed with 12 femurs divided into anatomically reduced and varus malreduced groups. Each femur was tested with and without cerclage wire augmentation. All femurs were fixed with a 215 mm, 130 degree, 11.5 mm nail. An Instron 8874 biaxial materials testing machine was used to assess the axial stiffness. Cyclic loading consisted of 5000 cycles of sinusoidal combined axial-torsion loading at 3 Hz. Axial load was 100 N to 2000 N and torsion -4.5 Nm to +4.5 Nm. Stiffness was measured before and after cyclic loading. Results Reduced constructs were stiffer than residual varus constructs. The mean overall fracture stiffness was 508.7 N/mm for reduced constructs and 379.2 N/mm for varus constructs. Removing the cables significantly decreased the fracture stiffness for both constructs (mean difference 60.0 N/mm, 95% CI 7.7-112.3, P = .032). Conclusions Anatomical reduction has a dominant effect on facture stiffness. Anatomically reduced fractures are stiffer than varus malreduced fractures. A cerclage wire further improves construct stiffness if anatomical reduction is achieved. Cerclage wiring is less effective if anatomical reduction is not achieved.