Comminuted fractures involving the tibia are associated with a high level of complications including delayed healing and non-union, in conjunction with dramatically increased healthcare costs. Certain clinicians utilise a Pixel Value Ratio (PRV) of 1 to indicate such fracture healing. The subjectivity of this method has led to mixed outcomes including regenerate fracture. The poor prognosis of complex load bearing fractures is accentuated by the fact that no quantitative gold standard currently exists to which clinicians can reference regarding the definition of a healed fracture. The aim of the current study is to use patient specific finite element analysis of complex tibial fractures treated with Ilizarov frames to demonstrate callus maturation and to determine the optimum frame removal time. 3 patients (2 males, 1 female) were analysed following presentation with complex tibial fractures treated with Ilizarov frames. Patient specific computational analysis was performed according to radiographic data, incorporating maturing material properties to analyse the callus response to weight bearing over the healing timeframe. Computational results were compared to the PVR method to evaluate its efficacy in determining the optimum Ilizarov frame removal time.Background
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