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<journal-id>International Journal of Aerospace and Lightweight Structures</journal-id>
<publication_date>2013</publication_date>
<volume>3</volume>
<issue>1</issue>
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<title-group>
<doi>10.3850/S2010428613000597</doi>
<article-title>The Effects of Flexible Fixation on Early Stage Bone Fracture Healing</article-title>
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<author>Lihai Zhang<sup>1,a</sup>, Saeed Miramini<sup>1,b</sup>, Priyan Mendis<sup>1,c</sup>, Martin Richardson<sup>2,d</sup>, Marinis Pirpiris<sup>2,e</sup> and Kunle Oloyede<sup>3</sup></author>

<author-citation>Zhang, Lihai; Miramini, Saeed; Mendis, Priyan; Richardson, Martin; Pirpiris, Marinis; Oloyede, Kunle</author-citation>

<aff><sup>1</sup>Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.</aff>

<email><a href="mailto:lihzhang@unimelb.edu.au"><sup>a</sup>lihzhang@unimelb.edu.au</a></email>

<email><a href="mailto:miramini@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au"><sup>b</sup>miramini@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au</a></email>

<email><a href="mailto:pamendis@unimelb.edu.au"><sup>c</sup>pamendis@unimelb.edu.au</a></email>


<aff><sup>2</sup>The Epworth Hospital, Richmond, Victoria 3012, Australia.</aff>

<email><a href="mailto:orthovic@gmail.com"><sup>d</sup>orthovic@gmail.com</a></email>

<email><a href="mailto:mmpirpiris@hotmail.com"><sup>e</sup>mmpirpiris@hotmail.com</a></email>

<aff><sup>3</sup>Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.</aff>

<email><a href="mailto:k.oloyede@qut.edu.au">k.oloyede@qut.edu.au</a></email>


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<abstract>
<title>ABSTRACT</title>
<p>The mechanical microenvironment at a fracture site could potentially influence the
outcomes of bone fracture healing. It is known that, should the fixation construct be
too stiff, or the gap between the fracture ends be too large, bones are less likely to
heal. Flexible fixation or so-called &#8220;biological fixation&#8221; has been shown to encourage the
formation of fracture callus, and therefore result in better healing outcomes. However, till
date the nature of the relationship between the degree of mechanical stability provided
by a flexible fixation and optimal healing fracture healing outcomes has not been fully
understood. This paper presents a computational model that can predict healing out-
comes from early stage healing data under various fixation configurations. The results of
the simulations demonstrate that the change of mechanical microenvironment of fracture
site resulting from the different fixation configurations is of importance for the healing
outcomes.</p>


<p><italic>Keywords: </italic>Bone fracture healing, Computational modeling, Interfragmentary movements (IFM).</p>
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