Bone anatomy shows one size doesnt fit both
Western University News Jul 28, 2017
Patient health may be compromised, and health costs higher, when the same kind of stabilizing plate is used in a womanÂs forearm as in a manÂs after a bone break, say researchers at Western UniversityÂs Bone and Joint Institute.
Fractures of the distal radius, just above the wrist, are among the most common bone breaks  they often happen when people try to cushion a fall with their hands – and often require surgical implantation of a metal plate to help the bone heal.
ÂBecause the dimensions of implants are made from aggregated measurements of both men and women, we know the plates donÂt always fit the anatomy of either men or women, said Mitchell Thom, who holds an MSC in clinical anatomy. ÂThat can lead to complications that sometimes result in a second surgery to remove the plate, and then another period of extended rehabilitation. We also know that women have a higher rate of complications than men.Â
Thom set out to understand why, through detailed anatomical studies that included CT scans and 3D modelling. He concluded that, even when women and men have the same length of bone, womenÂs bones have a slightly different shape and the measurements are different. ÂThe fixation plate simply doesnÂt fit the same way it does with men, and thatÂs often the cause of the pain and other complications. This research suggests we have to go beyond the one–size–fits–both mentality when it comes to implants, Thom said.
Changing the plateÂs construction to reflect the different dimensions of womenÂs forearms would help improve patient recovery from serious breaks  particularly in women who have osteoporosis and are more likely to break bones. It would also save costs that result from longer rehabilitation times and the possibility of second surgery for some patients, he said.
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Fractures of the distal radius, just above the wrist, are among the most common bone breaks  they often happen when people try to cushion a fall with their hands – and often require surgical implantation of a metal plate to help the bone heal.
ÂBecause the dimensions of implants are made from aggregated measurements of both men and women, we know the plates donÂt always fit the anatomy of either men or women, said Mitchell Thom, who holds an MSC in clinical anatomy. ÂThat can lead to complications that sometimes result in a second surgery to remove the plate, and then another period of extended rehabilitation. We also know that women have a higher rate of complications than men.Â
Thom set out to understand why, through detailed anatomical studies that included CT scans and 3D modelling. He concluded that, even when women and men have the same length of bone, womenÂs bones have a slightly different shape and the measurements are different. ÂThe fixation plate simply doesnÂt fit the same way it does with men, and thatÂs often the cause of the pain and other complications. This research suggests we have to go beyond the one–size–fits–both mentality when it comes to implants, Thom said.
Changing the plateÂs construction to reflect the different dimensions of womenÂs forearms would help improve patient recovery from serious breaks  particularly in women who have osteoporosis and are more likely to break bones. It would also save costs that result from longer rehabilitation times and the possibility of second surgery for some patients, he said.
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