ArticleBone & joint open2021
Pilot study of micromotion nailing for mechanical stimulation of tibial fracture healing.
Article in Bone & joint open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Dynamic Fracture Fixation Plates: A Systematic Review of Evolving Design Approaches.Annals of biomedical engineering · 2025Pooled it
- [Digital technology and sensors around the "patient journey" in trauma surgery].Unfallchirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026Review
- Automated and manual model creation workflows are equally reliable for virtual mechanical testing of ovine bone and fracture healing.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Analysis of the Feasibility of the OrthoNail Hybrid Intramedullary Implant in the Human Body with Respect to Material Durability.Journal of functional biomaterials · 2025Article
- Mechanically compliant locking plates for diaphyseal fracture fixation: A biomechanical study.Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2025Article
- A Shifting Paradigm: Transformation of Cartilage to Bone during Bone Repair.Journal of dental research · 2023Review
- A clinical comparative study of intramedullary nailing and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis for extra-articular distal tibia fractures.American journal of translational research · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimsThe study objective was to prospectively assess clinical outcomes for a pilot cohort of tibial shaft fractures treated with a new tibial nailing system that produces controlled axial interfragmentary micromotion. The hypothesis was that axial micromotion enhances fracture healing compared to static interlocking.
methodsPatients were treated in a single level I trauma centre over a 2.5-year period. Group allocation was not randomized; both the micromotion nail and standard-of-care static locking nails (control group) were commercially available and selected at the discretion of the treating surgeons. Injury risk levels were quantified using the Nonunion Risk Determination (NURD) score. Radiological healing was assessed until 24 weeks or clinical union. Low-dose CT scans were acquired at 12 weeks and virtual mechanical testing was performed to objectively assess structural bone healing.
resultsA total of 37 micromotion patients and 46 control patients were evaluated. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of age, sex, the proportion of open fractures, or NURD score. There were no nonunions (0%) in the micromotion group versus five (11%) in the control group. The proportion of fractures united was significantly higher in the micromotion group compared to control at 12 weeks (54% vs 30% united; p = 0.043), 18 weeks (81% vs 59%; p = 0.034), and 24 weeks (97% vs 74%; p = 0.005). Structural bone healing scores as assessed by CT scans tended to be higher with micromotion compared to control and this difference reached significance in patients who had biological comorbidities such as smoking.
conclusionIn this pilot study, micromotion fixation was associated with improved healing compared to standard tibial nailing. Further prospective clinical studies will be needed to assess the strength and generalizability of any potential benefits of micromotion fixation. Cite this article:
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