ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2025
Measurement of the dynamic axial load-share ratio in vivo could indicate sufficient callus healing in external fixators.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Callus formation during healing is guided by local strain: a retrospective clinical observation.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Observational
- Application of axial load-share ratio testing technology in the bone transport treatment of large segmental tibial bone defects.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Article
- Finite Element Analysis of Von Mises Stress in External Fixators for Open Tibial Fractures: A Comparative Study of ASTM F1541-02 and Tibia-Based Models in Indonesian Patients.Healthcare technology lettersArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundFracture healing is commonly evaluated through physical examination and radiographic results. However, these methods rely on the surgeons' subjective experience, without including the objective biomechanical properties of the bony callus. This paper presents an innovative method for measuring the callus stiffness in vivo to evaluate fracture healing, further instructing surgeons to remove external fixator safely.
methodsA novel dynamic axial load-share ratio (D-LS) index and its associated measuring system was introduced, including the system's composition (hexapod and insole modules), theoretical model, and method for D-LS measurement. From Jan 2022 to May 2024, 36 patients with tibial shaft fracture treated by Taylor Spatial Frame were evaluated in this prospective study. Once the patient had reached clinical bone healing conditions, the in vivo D-LS measurement was conducted. The patients' demographic data, clinical outcomes, particularly D-LS value and refracture rate were recorded.
resultsAt a mean follow-up of 16.50 ± 5.79 months, a total of 36 patients completed the final follow-up. Fixators were removed with an average of 24.81 ± 4.51 weeks. The result of hexapod module's precision examination were maximum errors of 3.72 N, 3.31 N and 2.68 N in x-, y- and z-axis, respectively. The measuring process took an average system installation time of 15.42 ± 4.88 min. Two patients (5.56%) reported fracture site pain. Each patient's D-LS was determined after three rounds of measurement. The average D-LS value was 15.58 ± 2.77% (range, 9.60-20.52%). None of the 36 patients reported refracture at the last follow-up.
conclusionsThe novel D-LS measurement system can measure the dynamic forces of lower limb for patients with external fixator in vivo. An objective biomechanical indicator of the regenerate callus was provided by the D-LS. The D-LS measurement is a complement to standard radiological assessment only after radiologically confirmed bone union. Measuring the D-LS in vivo could indicate whether the callus healing is sufficient in external fixation, and 15.6% (average) was recommended as a reference D-LS value for safe fixator removal.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.