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Orthopedic screw torque measurement

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Project Overview

Bone exhibits viscoelastic behavior. Unlike smaller animals or human patients, long bone fracture constructs in horses experience substantial loading during recovery from general anesthesia immediately after fracture repair. After surgery, horses will typically apply substantial static loads to the construct, as they cannot stand or walk on three limbs. Therefore, the fracture-implant construct needs to be as strong as possible mechanically to allow the fracture to heal successfully without implant breakage or loosening. During orthopedic surgery, bone screws are typically tightened to a subjective torque value by the surgeon during placement. Despite reported ranges of optimal torque in the literature, there is no definitive standardized optimal tightening torque values that reflect potential torque relaxation of bone screws after insertion in bone in equine patients undergoing fracture repair.

Last semester, a prototype for a digital torque screwdriver was completed. This screwdriver will eventually be used either in the clinic during implant placement for fracture repair or in a research setting in order to measure torque during screw implantation. Our goal this semester is to improve upon the given prototype, mainly by modifying it for a sterile, clinical setting.

References
BME Design: Past Teams:
https://bmedesign.engr.wisc.edu/projects/s16/torque_measurement/

Complete extended project description from client:
http://bmedesign.engr.wisc.edu/temp/BMEdesignprojectDigitaltorquescrewdrivermodel.pdf

Client:
Dr. Sabrina Brounts, DVM, MS, DACVS, DECVS, DACVSMR
Large Animal Surgery
UW School of Veterinary Medicine
(608) 263-7600
sabrina.brounts@wisc.edu

Alternate Contacts:
Dr. Jennifer Whyard, BVetMed MRCVS
(608) 335-1659
jennifer.whyard@wisc.edu

Prof. Peter Muir BVSc, MVetClinStud, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, ECVS
(608) 263-7600
peter.muir@wisc.edu

Team Picture

Team members from left to right: Benjamin Mihelich, Christopher Rupel, Thomas Friesch, Isabella Reichardt, Grace Restle
Team members from left to right: Benjamin Mihelich, Christopher Rupel, Thomas Friesch, Isabella Reichardt, Grace Restle

Contact Information

Team Members

  • Benjamin Mihelich - Team Leader
  • Grace Restle - Communicator
  • Thomas Friesch - BSAC
  • Isabella Reichardt - BWIG
  • Christopher Rupel - BPAG

Advisor and Client

  • Prof. William Murphy - Advisor
  • Prof. Sabrina Brounts - Client
  • Peter Muir - Alternate Contact
  • Dr. Jennifer Whyard - Alternate Contact

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