Ex vivo evaluation of polyethylene cable compared to stainless steel cerclage wire in a canine fracture model

IntroductionThe objective of this study was to compare the biomechanical stability of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) orthopedic cable system to stainless steel cerclage wire (SSW) fixation in cyclic four-point bending in a cadaveric fracture model.Materials and methodsA long ob...

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Main Authors: Seila Day, Steven Elder, Cooper Brookshire, Michael H. Jaffe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1613295/full
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author Seila Day
Steven Elder
Cooper Brookshire
Michael H. Jaffe
author_facet Seila Day
Steven Elder
Cooper Brookshire
Michael H. Jaffe
author_sort Seila Day
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe objective of this study was to compare the biomechanical stability of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) orthopedic cable system to stainless steel cerclage wire (SSW) fixation in cyclic four-point bending in a cadaveric fracture model.Materials and methodsA long oblique osteotomy model was employed using paired canine cadaveric femurs. The osteotomies were stabilized with either three UHMWPE cables (n = 10) or three 18 gauge stainless steel loop cerclage wires (n = 10). Cyclic testing was performed by applying increasing force at 2 Hz until construct failure, defined as ≥2 mm of actuator displacement. Data analyzed included cycles to failure, load at failure, and dynamic stiffness.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in any of the outcomes tested between constructs. Visible loosening was noted in all loop cerclage constructs. No visible loosening of the UHMWPE cable was noted.DiscussionThe results suggest that the UHMWPE cable’s resistance to failure was comparable to SSW in four-point bending. Additional biomechanical testing would be needed to assess for statistical significance as well as performance in torsion and compression or with adjunctive fixation methods. Future clinical studies in veterinary applications are needed to assess how the UHMWPE cable performs in vivo.
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spelling doaj-art-edbf9f6c0d0049d9afb4d8d9c2b94dfb2025-08-20T02:39:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-07-011210.3389/fvets.2025.16132951613295Ex vivo evaluation of polyethylene cable compared to stainless steel cerclage wire in a canine fracture modelSeila Day0Steven Elder1Cooper Brookshire2Michael H. Jaffe3Department of Clinical Sciences, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State, MS, United StatesBagley College of Engineering, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, United StatesDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State, MS, United StatesDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State, MS, United StatesIntroductionThe objective of this study was to compare the biomechanical stability of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) orthopedic cable system to stainless steel cerclage wire (SSW) fixation in cyclic four-point bending in a cadaveric fracture model.Materials and methodsA long oblique osteotomy model was employed using paired canine cadaveric femurs. The osteotomies were stabilized with either three UHMWPE cables (n = 10) or three 18 gauge stainless steel loop cerclage wires (n = 10). Cyclic testing was performed by applying increasing force at 2 Hz until construct failure, defined as ≥2 mm of actuator displacement. Data analyzed included cycles to failure, load at failure, and dynamic stiffness.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in any of the outcomes tested between constructs. Visible loosening was noted in all loop cerclage constructs. No visible loosening of the UHMWPE cable was noted.DiscussionThe results suggest that the UHMWPE cable’s resistance to failure was comparable to SSW in four-point bending. Additional biomechanical testing would be needed to assess for statistical significance as well as performance in torsion and compression or with adjunctive fixation methods. Future clinical studies in veterinary applications are needed to assess how the UHMWPE cable performs in vivo.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1613295/fullUHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene)cerclage wirefracture repaircaninebiomechanicalfemur
spellingShingle Seila Day
Steven Elder
Cooper Brookshire
Michael H. Jaffe
Ex vivo evaluation of polyethylene cable compared to stainless steel cerclage wire in a canine fracture model
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene)
cerclage wire
fracture repair
canine
biomechanical
femur
title Ex vivo evaluation of polyethylene cable compared to stainless steel cerclage wire in a canine fracture model
title_full Ex vivo evaluation of polyethylene cable compared to stainless steel cerclage wire in a canine fracture model
title_fullStr Ex vivo evaluation of polyethylene cable compared to stainless steel cerclage wire in a canine fracture model
title_full_unstemmed Ex vivo evaluation of polyethylene cable compared to stainless steel cerclage wire in a canine fracture model
title_short Ex vivo evaluation of polyethylene cable compared to stainless steel cerclage wire in a canine fracture model
title_sort ex vivo evaluation of polyethylene cable compared to stainless steel cerclage wire in a canine fracture model
topic UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene)
cerclage wire
fracture repair
canine
biomechanical
femur
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1613295/full
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AT cooperbrookshire exvivoevaluationofpolyethylenecablecomparedtostainlesssteelcerclagewireinacaninefracturemodel
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