Biomechanical evaluation of fetal calf skull as a model for testing halo-pin designs for use in children

Abstract Rigid immobilization of the cervical spine in children is normally accomplished with a halo ring attached to the skull with pins. Concern exists about the risk of halo pin complications in small children due to their diminished skull thickness. More data are needed on biomechanical properti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomechanics 2007-01, Vol.40 (5), p.1137-1144
Main Authors: Beall III, McPherson S, Copley, Lawson A.B, Niemann, Joshua J, Lankachandra, Kamani, Williams, John L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biomechanical Phenomena - methods
Biomechanics
Bone Nails
Bone screws
Cattle
Children & youth
Compliance
Compressive strength
Consolidation
Elasticity
External fixators
Fetus
Histology
Load
Mechanical
Models, Animal
Orthopedic fixation devices
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Scanning electron microscopy
Skull
Stress
Studies
Test systems
Yield stress
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Summary:Abstract Rigid immobilization of the cervical spine in children is normally accomplished with a halo ring attached to the skull with pins. Concern exists about the risk of halo pin complications in small children due to their diminished skull thickness. More data are needed on biomechanical properties of the immature skull and on safe levels for halo pin penetration forces. The study included halo pin penetration tests on 43 skull samples obtained from eight fetal calves, radial compression tests of 11 skull samples, and histology. Compressive composite elastic modulus (15–139 MPa), yield stress (1–5 MPa) and composite consolidation modulus (188–479 MPa) were measured in the skull's radial direction. Pin penetration force ( F ) in Newtons at a pin-penetration depth equal to the original skull thickness ( T ) in mm, was related to T as: F =100+4.3e T ( R2 =0.76, p
ISSN:0021-9290
1873-2380
DOI:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2006.05.003