Physical characters and economics of acrylic and epoxy polymers as frame components of external skeletal fixator

SURBHI KULDEEP TYAGI; HARI PRASAD AITHAL; PRAKASH KINJAVDEKAR; AMARPAL AMARPAL; ABHIJIT MOTIRAM PAWDE; IRAWATI POLESHWAR SARODE

doi:10.56093/ijans.v84i12.45360

Authors

SURBHI KULDEEP TYAGI College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat
HARI PRASAD AITHAL Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
PRAKASH KINJAVDEKAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
AMARPAL AMARPAL Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
ABHIJIT MOTIRAM PAWDE Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
IRAWATI POLESHWAR SARODE Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v84i12.45360

Keywords:

Acrylic, Epoxy, External skeletal fixators, Polymer

Abstract

Physical characters of acrylic and epoxy polymers used in constructing external skeletal fixator vis-à-vis economics were compared in the present study. The fixator constructs were prepared using acrylic/epoxy polymer, 1.5 mm K-wires and ultra high density polyethylene rods as a bone substitute. Observations on fabrication ease, weight, radiographic properties and economics of polymers were taken. The epoxy polymer being doughy, less heat producing and fumeless was easier to fabricate into constructs. Hardening time for acrylic was dependent on environmental temperature with an average of 11 min; whereas, epoxy putty hardened in about 22 min and the hardening was independent of environmental temperature. Acrylic fixators were radiolucent and significantly lower in weight. Preparation cost of epoxy constructs was significantly lower than acrylic constructs. Present study provides baseline benchmarks to choose polymers in constructing external skeletal fixators according to available resources, technical expertise and economics involved.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aithal H P, Kinjavdekar P, Amarpal, Pawde A M, Pratap K, Zama M M S, Surbhi, Monsang S W and Setia S C. 2010. Epoxy- pin external skeletal fixation for management of open long bone fractures in calves and foals. A review of 16 cases. 34th Annual Congress of ISVS. Veterinary College, Puducherry. 8– 10 Dec 2010 .

Anderson D E and St Jean G. 1996. External skeletal fixation in ruminants. Veterinary Clinics of North America Food Animal Practice 12: 117–52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-0720(15)30439-4

Hall C. 1981.Polymers: molecular structure. Polymer Materials. An Introduction for Technologists and Scientists. Pp.1–91. (Ed.) Hall C. John Wiley and Sons, New York.

Julie B, Swam K V, Rajankutty K, Venugopalan K and Sarada Amma T. 2007. Acrylic external skeletal fixator for treatment of long bone fracturtes in dogs. Indian Journal of Veterinary Surgery 28: 6–10.

Kummer F J. 1990. Technical note: Evaluation of new Ilizarov rings. Bulletin of Hospital Joint Diseases 50: 88–90.

Lewis D D, Cross A R, Carmichael S and Anderson M A. 2001. Recent advances in external skeletal fixation. Journal of Small Animal Practice 42:103 –12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2001.tb02006.x

Lewis D D, Bronson D G, Samchukov M L, Welch R D and Stallings J T. 1998. Biomechanics of circular external skeletal fixation. Veterinary Surgery 27: 454–64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.1998.tb00156.x

Martinez S A, Arnokzky S P, Flo G L and Brinker W O. 1997: Dissipation of heat during polymerization of acrylics used for external skeletal fixator connecting bars. Veterinary Surgery 26: 290–94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.1997.tb01501.x

Mascia L. 1982. Thermoplastics: Materials Engineering. pp.120–79. Applied Science Publishers, Ltd. New York .

Okrasinski E R, Pardo A D and Graehler R A. 1991. Biomechanical evaluation of acrylic external skeletal fixation in dogs and cats. Journal of American Veterinary Medicine Association 199: 1590–93.

Roe S C and Keo T. 1997. Epoxy putty for free-form external skeletal fixators. Veterinary surgery 26: 472–77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.1997.tb00519.x

Ross J T and Matthiesen D T. 1993. The use of multiple pin and methylmethacrylate external skeletal fixation for the treatment of orthopaedic injuries in the dog and cat. Veterinary Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology 6: 115–21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0038-1633030

Shahar R. 2000. Relative stiffness and stress of type I and type II external fixators: Acrylic versus stainless-steel connecting bars-a theoretical approach. Veterinary Surgery 29: 59–69. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2000.00059.x

Snedecor G W and Cochran W G. 1994. Statistical Methods. 8th edn. Iowa state university press, Ames, Ia.

Surbhi. 2011. ‘Biomechanical and clinical studies on acrylic and epoxy-pin external skeletal fixation systems in dogs.’ Thesis Doctor of Philosophy of Veterinary Surgery and radiology, Deemed University Indian Veterinary Research Institute.

Willer R L, Egger E L and Histand M B. 1991. Comparison of stainless steel versus acrylic for the connecting bar of external fixators. Journal of American Veterinary Medicine Association 27: 541–48.

Worth A J. 2007. Management of fractures of the long bones of eight cats using external skeletal fixation and a tied-in intramedullary pin with a resin acrylic bar. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 55: 191–97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2007.36767

White D T, Bronson D G, and Welch R D. 2003. A mechanical comparison of veterinary linear external skeletal fixation system. Veterinary Surgery 32: 507–14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2003.00507.x