Segmenttransport: Elektronische Messung der Zugkräfte in den Transportseilen

Segment transport is used to reconstruct bony defects after removal of the bone due to treatment for osteomyelitis. We use the Ilizarov fixator for the segment transport. The part of the bone that has to be moved through the defect is pulled by a lateral and a medial wire. To continuously determine the tension forces in the wires, a tension measuring cell with a resistance strain gauge was implanted in each wire. The readings showed the strength of the forces affecting the wires. A dependence of the length of the defect that has to be bridged and the forces that occur was found. Due to the differences between measured forces and expected forces complications, such as premature ossification of the transport stretch could be recognised early and treated. The aim is to develop an automatic motorised segment transport controlled by the forces created. Thus a continuous traction can be obtained with a constant distension stimulus for bone regeneration.