A marcha humana, ou caminhada, é um padrão cíclico de movimentos corporais que se repetem a cada passo que desloca um indivíduo de um local a outro. Atualmente, avaliações biomecânicas da marcha humana tem sido utilizado no diagnóstico de alterações neuromusculares, músculo-esqueléticas e como forma de avaliação pré e pós-tratamento cirúrgico, medicamentoso e/ou fisioterapêutico. O presente trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta acadêmica de baixo custo para o estudo da marcha humana. Esse sistema consiste no sensoriamento da marcha de um usuário através de sensores inerciais e de um modelo virtual do corpo humano para permitir a visualização do movimento gerado. Dessa maneira o usuário poderá ter suas ações corrigidas por sua percepção visual e também corrigida pelas orientações de um fisiatra ou fisioterapeuta que terá a reprodução do modelo virtual conforme a movimentação detalhada do paciente para análise. O sistema ainda efetuará os registros das variáveis cinemáticas da marcha (tais como aceleração, velocidade angular, angulações dos membros sensoriados) para estudos e acompanhamento mais detalhado da sua recuperação e/ou tratamento. Como resultado, o sistema desenvolvido obteve erros médios de X 0,52º Y 1,20º Z 1,80º e erros em RMS de X 3,01º Y 3,30º Z 5,70º quando comparados com um sistema comercial, sendo esse resultado próximo à literatura e aplicável em exames biomecânicos de marcha. / The human gait is a cyclical pattern of body movements that are repeated every step that moves a subject from one location to another. Currently, biomechanical assessments of human gait has been used for diagnosing neuromuscular disorders, musculoskeletal and as a way of pre and post-surgical treatment, medication and/or physical therapy. This paper presents the development of a low cost academic tool for the study of human gait. This system consists of sensing the motion of a user through inertial sensors and a virtual model of the human body to allow the visualization of the generated movement. In this way, the user can have its actions corrected by his visual perception and also corrected by therapist or physiotherapist who will visualize the virtual model as the detailed movements of patient. The system will also record the kinematic gait variables (as acceleration, angular velocity, angles of the sensed members) for studies and more detailed monitoring of their recovery and/or treatment. As result, the developed system obtained average errors of X 0,52º Y 1,20º Z 1,80º and errors in RMS X 3,01º Y 3,30º Z 5,70º compared to a commercial system, and these results close to the ones seen in literature and applicable in biomechanical tests of gait.

Foi realizado estudo experimental, utilizando-se vértebra de suínos, para o estudo da influência da técnica de perfuração do pedículo vertebral na resistência ao arrancamento dos implantes. A técnica de perfuração com broca seguida de macheamento do canal pedicular (técnica 1) foi individualmente comparada com as demais: perfuração com broca sem macheamento do canal pedicular (técnica 2), perfuração com fio de Kirschner com macheamento do canal pedicular (técnica 3), perfuração com sonda sem macheamento do canal pedicular (técnica 4). Três grupos experimentais foram utilizados de acordo com a preparação do orifício. O grupo I comparou a técnica 1 com a técnica 2, no qual foi estudado a influência do macheamento no canal do pedículo. O grupo II comparou a técnica 1 com a técnica 3, no qual foi estudado a influência no modo de preparo do orifício utilizando fio de Kirschner. O grupo III comparou a técnica 1 com a técnica 4, no qual foi estudado a influência da utilização da sonda no preparo do orifício. O resultados da comparação da técnica. de perfuração do orifício de acordo com os parâmetros estudados (carga máxima de arrancamento, rigidez, carga no limite de proporcionalidade, deslocamento máximo e deslocamento no limite de proporcionalidade), mostraram que não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre as diferentes técnicas utilizadas para o preparo dos orifícios do pedículo vertebral na resistência ao arrancamento dos implantes. / An experimental study was conducted on swme vertebrae to investigate the effect of the technique of vertebral pedicle perforation on the pullout resistance of the implants. The technique of perforation with a burr followed by tapping of the pedicular canal (technique 1) was individually compared to the remaining ones, i.e., perforation with a burr without tapping of the pedicular canal (technique 2), perforation with a Kirschner wire with tapping of the pedicular canal (technique 3), and perforation with a probe without tapping of the pedicular canal (technique 4). Three experimental groups were used according to orifice preparation. Group I was used to compare technique 1 to technique 2, with a study of the effect of tapping on the pedicular canal. Group II was used to compare technique 1 with technique 3, with a study of the effect of mode of orifice preparation using a Kirschner wire. Group III was used to compare technique 1 to technique 4, with a study of the effect of the use of a probe for orifice preparation. Comparison of the techniques of orifice preparation according to the parameters studied (maximum pullout load, stiffness, load in the proportionality limit, maximum dislocation, and dislocation in the proportionality limit) showed no statistically significant difference between the various techniques used for preparation of the orifices of the vertebral pedicle, in terms of their effect on the pullout resistance of the implants.

As claudicações são a principal causa de encaminhamento de equinos aos médicos veterinários e uma das maiores causas de encaminhamento destes animais aos hospitais de referência; sendo as fraturas, especialmente aquelas de ossos longos e articulares, as que têm menor índice de sucesso devido ao prognóstico reservado e alto custo do tratamento; entendendo como sucesso o retorno do animal à função ou manutenção da qualidade de vida. A articulação interfalangeana proximal (AIP) dos equinos é clinicamente importante devido à apresentação frequente de claudicação, com lesões que comprometem a vida esportiva e função do equino. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi comparar biomecanicamente as características de duas técnicas de artrodese da AIP em equinos, utilizando-se placa de compressão dinâmica (DCP) de 4.5mm e três orifícios em combinação com dois parafusos corticais transarticulares de 5.5mm oblíquos inseridos pela técnica de tração (lag screw) e placa em "Y\" de compressão bloqueada (LCP) de 5,0mm e sete orifícios, com parafusos bloquados unicorticais e um parafuso cortical de 4.5mm oblíquo transarticular inserido no orifício central da placa, pela técnica de parafuso de tração. Foram utilizadas doze peças anatômicas de membros anteriores de equinos, das quais foi isolada a porção distal do membro desde a primeira falange até o casco. Uma vez preparadas as peças, cada par foi sorteado randomicamente para cada um dos dois grupos. Os modelos experimentais foram submetidos a ensaios biomecânicos de compressão axial em ciclo único até a sua falha. O tipo de falha ocorrida na placa, nos parafusos ou nos ossos foi avaliado, assim como a força à qual ocorreram estas falhas. Não houve diferença estatística significativa entre os grupos DCP e Y-LCP, nas variáveis rigidez e força máxima, quando submetidas a compressão axial até sua falha. Mesmo não havendo diferença entre as duas técnicas cirúrgicas na variável rigidez, a técnica Y-LCP possibilitou um procedimento menos invasivo e com menor tempo cirúrgico. Conclui-se que, as propriedades biomecânicas das duas técnicas de fixação (DCP e Y-LCP) são semelhantes nas condições testadas. / Lameness is the main cause of sport horses\' owners consulting equine veterinarians and one of the highest cause to send these animals to the reference hospitals. Long bones and joint fractures have the lesser rate of success, consequence of the hight cost of the treatment and poor prognosis. Understanding as success the return of the horse to previous athletic performance or at least to have useful life. The proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) is clinically important because the injuries that involve it may threaten the horses sport life or its usefulness. The objective of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of two PIPJ arthrodesis techniques using 4.5mm dynamic compression plate (DCP) in conjunction with two oblique abaxial transarticular 5.5mm cortical screws inserted in lag fashion and 5.0mm Y locking compression plate (Y-LCP) with unicortical locking screws and one axial transarticular 4.5mm cortex screw inserted in lag fashion through the midle plate hole. It was used twelve cadaveric adult equine forelimbs from the first phalanx to the foot. After full-limb preparations, each forelimb pair was randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Constructs were submited to axial compression single cycle to failure biomechanical testing. The failure of the screws, plate or bone, and the force at wich it happened was evaluated. There were no significant differences in construct stiffness or max force when loaded to failure, between the DCP and Y-LCP treatment groups. Even though there was no construct stiffness diffrences between the two techniques, the Y-LCP technique provided the possibility of a less invasive procedure with a shorter surgical time. In conclusion, the biomechanical properties of both fixation techniques (DCP and Y-LCP) are equivalent under the test conditions used.

No description available.

A fundamentação de métodos diagnósticos precoces na ortopedia de eqüinos é de extrema importância clínica, cirúrgica e econômica. O presente estudo teve como objetivo estudar a correlação da densidade mineral óssea do terceiro metacarpiano de eqüinos, obtida pelo método de absorciometria radiográfica, com a resistência dos mesmos quando submetidos a ensaios biomecânicos de compressão e flexão. Utilizaram-se trinta pares de osso terceiro metacarpiano de eqüinos adultos, os quais foram dissecados, radiografados, analisados pelo método de absorciometria radiográfica, submetidos ao estudo tomográfico e a ensaios biomecânicos. Através dos dados obtidos não se observou correlação significativa entre os valores de densidade óptica radiográfica e as propriedades biomecânicas do osso terceiro metacarpiano. Concluiu-se que não se pode inferir que os valores de densidade óssea obtidos pela absorciometria radiográfica do osso terceiro metacarpiano de um eqüino tenha correlação com a capacidade deste osso de absorver cargas de compressão e flexão. / The complete knowledge about non-invasive methods for early disgnostics in equine orthopedy is economicaly important. This experiment has studied the correlation between bone mineral density determined by radiographic absorptiometry and bone resistance of equine third metacarpal bone submitted to both compression and flexion testings. Thirty pairs of third metacarpal bone of adult horses were collected, dissected, radiographed, analysed by the radiographic absorptiometry technique, and submitted to tomographic study and biomechanical testings. The results have shown there is no significant correlation between radiographic bone density values and biomechanical properties of the third metacarpal bone. Therefore, it has been concluded bone mineral density of the third metacarpal bone determined by radiographic absorptiometry do not predict bone capacity to resist compression and flexion loads.

A fundamentação de métodos diagnósticos precoces na ortopedia de eqüinos é de extrema importância clínica, cirúrgica e econômica. O presente estudo teve como objetivo estudar a correlação da densidade mineral óssea do terceiro metacarpiano de eqüinos, obtida pelo método de absorciometria radiográfica, com a resistência dos mesmos quando submetidos a ensaios biomecânicos de compressão e flexão. Utilizaram-se trinta pares de osso terceiro metacarpiano de eqüinos adultos, os quais foram dissecados, radiografados, analisados pelo método de absorciometria radiográfica, submetidos ao estudo tomográfico e a ensaios biomecânicos. Através dos dados obtidos não se observou correlação significativa entre os valores de densidade óptica radiográfica e as propriedades biomecânicas do osso terceiro metacarpiano. Concluiu-se que não se pode inferir que os valores de densidade óssea obtidos pela absorciometria radiográfica do osso terceiro metacarpiano de um eqüino tenha correlação com a capacidade deste osso de absorver cargas de compressão e flexão. / The complete knowledge about non-invasive methods for early disgnostics in equine orthopedy is economicaly important. This experiment has studied the correlation between bone mineral density determined by radiographic absorptiometry and bone resistance of equine third metacarpal bone submitted to both compression and flexion testings. Thirty pairs of third metacarpal bone of adult horses were collected, dissected, radiographed, analysed by the radiographic absorptiometry technique, and submitted to tomographic study and biomechanical testings. The results have shown there is no significant correlation between radiographic bone density values and biomechanical properties of the third metacarpal bone. Therefore, it has been concluded bone mineral density of the third metacarpal bone determined by radiographic absorptiometry do not predict bone capacity to resist compression and flexion loads.

Abstract Early motion is crucial for tendon healing and functional results after flexor tendon repair in the fingers. Motion, however, causes stress in the repair site, which can result in failure of the repair. A flexor tendon repair is made with fine calibre sutures, which sets exceptional requirements for the suture materials used in flexor tendon repair. Nitinol (nickel-titanium alloy) is a shape memory alloy, which can exist in two temperature-dependent forms, soft martensite and stiff austenite. It is possible to fabricate a nitinol wire that is soft and pliable, yet has high tensile strength. It also has excellent biocompatibility. Therefore, it is a potential candidate flexor tendon repair suture material. This study evaluates biomechanical aspects of martensite nitinol wire as a flexor tendon repair suture material. The study hypothesis was that nitinol wire improves the strength of the repairs compared with the repairs made with conventional suture materials. It was found that nitinol core repairs and circumferential repairs performed significantly better when compared with repairs made with commonly used braided polyester and polypropylene of equal calibre. To further optimise the performance of the nitinol wire in tendon surgery, two experimental models were developed to study the suture-tendon interface. The aim was to prevent pull-out of the suture loop so that surgeons could have full advantage of the tensile strength of the nitinol suture. First, it was tested whether it is possible to improve the suture’s ability to grip the tendon tissue by changing the suture type from monofilament to multifilament. Multifilament suture loops reached higher pull-out strength when compared with round monofilament loops when a locking loop was used. Subsequently, the grip of four different previously reported core repair loops was tested. Based on their failure mechanism, two novel loops were developed. The novel loops demonstrated superior ability to grip the tendon. The novel loops can be useful with high tensile strength suture materials and in repairs, which are prone to suture pull-out. / Tiivistelmä Varhainen korjauksen jälkeinen aktiivinen kuntoutus on osoittautunut hyödylliseksi jänteen paranemiselle. Varhainen liike altistaa korjauksen kuormitukselle, joka voi johtaa korjauksen pettämiseen. Korjaukset tehdään ohuilla langoilla. Tämä asettaa erityisiä vaatimuksia jännekorjauksessa käytettävälle ommelainemateriaalille. Nikkeli-titaani (nitinoli) on nk. muistimetalli. Sillä on kaksi lämpötilariippuvaista muotoa: pehmeä martensiitti ja jäykkä austeniitti. Nitinolista voidaan valmistaa ohutta pehmeää ja taipuisaa lankaa, jonka vetolujuus on suuri. Nitinolin siedettävyys jännekudoksessa on todettu hyväksi, minkä vuoksi se on lupaava materiaali käytettäväksi jännekorjauksissa. Tässä tutkimuksessa kokeiltiin martensiittisen nitinolilangan käyttöä jänteen ydinompeleena ja pintaompeleena. Olettamuksena oli, että nitinolilangalla saadaan kestävämpiä korjauksia kuin nykyään käytössä olevilla langoilla. Tulosten mukaan nitinolilangalla tehdyt korjaukset olivat kestävämpiä, kun niitä verrattiin saman paksuiseen punottuun polyesteriin ja polypropyleeniin. Lisäksi kehitimme kaksi mallia, joiden tarkoituksena oli parantaa nitinolilankasilmukan pitoa jännekudoksesta. Tarkoituksena oli löytää keinoja, joilla langan otetta jännekudoksesta voidaan parantaa ja langan hyvät vetolujuusominaisuudet pääsevät oikeuksiinsa. Ensin muutimme langan muotoa perinteisestä yksisäikeisestä pyöreästä monisäikeiseen muotoon. Monisäikeisen langan läpileikkausvoima oli huomattavasti suurempi kuin yksisäikeisen pyöreän langan. Ero oli havaittavissa vain, kun käytettiin lukitsevaa silmukkaa. Tämän jälkeen testasimme neljän perinteisesti käytetyn korjaustekniikan silmukan pitokykyä ja tulosten perusteella kehitimme kaksi uutta silmukkaa. Työssä kehitetyt silmukat pitivät kiinni jänteestä huomattavasti paremmin kuin perinteiset silmukat. Työssä kehitetyillä silmukoilla voidaan optimoida vahvojen ommelainemateriaalien suorituskyky jännekirurgiassa.

No description available.

<p>Current stabilization methods for periprosthetic fractures of the distal femur have been inadequate in achieving sufficient fixation and can lead to complications rates as high as 29%. Therefore, the overall objective of this study was to design, manufacture and evaluate (experimentally and computationally) a novel plating method for improving the treatment of periprosthetic fractures of the distal femur.</p> <p>Medial and lateral prototype plates were designed and manufactured based on the geometry of a synthetic femur and a femoral prosthesis. The two plates were linked via a compression screw and a small tab on each plate that inserts into pre-existing slots on the prosthesis to enhance rigidity of the construct. Synthetic femurs were used to assess the ability of the prototype plates to stabilize a periprosthetic fracture compared to a traditional single lateral plate. Each femur was subjected to a testing protocol that involved compressive and bending loading of the sample. The relative motion between the distal and proximal fragments during loading was then measured using both 2D and 3D motion tracking techniques. Both techniques revealed that the prototype bilateral plates were able to reduce motion of the fracture site compared to a single lateral plate.</p> <p>The final objective concerned the development of a finite element model to represent the experimental testing. The fracture gap motion obtained from the final model did not completely agree with the experimental data; however, additional experimental measurements found that the majority of these differences could be attributed to simplification made at the tab-slot interaction. Despite the difference, the model represents a significant step forward in the simulation of periprosthetic fracture treatment, and further refinement would allow for optimization of the plate design.</p> <p>Overall, the results of this thesis indicate that an alternative approach to treating periprosthetic fractures exists that is capable of improving fracture stabilization.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Snoring is a sleep disruption that can lead to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which interrupts breathing by obstructing the airway. Injecting a protein crosslinker, such as genipin, into the soft palate could decrease the severity of snoring and OSA by stiffening the soft palate. Equine soft palates modeled human palates due to a high incidence of awake snoring and apnea. The pilot in vivo study treated six horses with two 100 mM injections of the buffered genipin reagent. The efficacy phase horses underwent respiratory audio recordings to document snoring changes using Matlab and ImageJ in the time and frequency domains. Histological analysis was completed on the safety phase palates post treatment. All horses were successfully treated with the genipin injections. At least one horse showed high frequency amplitude reductions, and all horses had low frequency amplitude reductions, correlating to a reduction in palatal displacement and snoring loudness. One efficacy horse appears to have been completely cured. The histological analysis presented tissue damage, mucosal tissue damage, and mild inflammation due to palate expansion and errant injections. Different injection volumes and techniques should be investigated next. Applying this treatment to human studies for snoring and OSA applications is the ultimate goal.