• Peter J Ogrodnik, C Ian Moorcroft, and ThomasPeter B MPB.
• Staffordshire University, Stafford, Staffordshire ST18 0AD, UK. p.j.ogrodnik@staffs.ac.uk
• Med Eng Phys. 2007 Dec 1; 29 (10): 1049-55.

AbstractAn automated loading and measurement device has been developed for assessment of the mechanical properties of a healing human tibial fracture. The characteristics of the device are presented with assessments of errors. This paper constitutes a small part of a long term research project determining a clinically quantifiable end point for fracture healing in humans, hence a sample of results is presented to demonstrate the potential application of the device. A more detailed analysis of the results will be the basis of further publications. The initial results confirm that the non-linear behaviour of callus cannot be ignored in fracture assessment methodologies. They further reinforce the requirement to measure load-rate when measuring fracture stiffness. Polar plots of stiffness demonstrate that when measuring fracture stiffness not only should load-rate be considered, but also the orientation of measurement. The results from this work support the view that fracture stiffness should be measured in at least two planes. A new material property for the assessment of fracture healing, the gamma ratio gamma, is examined and preliminary results are shown. The paper also demonstrates how creep properties of a healing tibia can be assessed and proposes that this property may form the basis for future fracture assessment investigations.

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