Journal of Bioengineering & Biomedical Science

Robert E. Akins

Publications

• Research Article
  Continuous Force Measurement in Limb Lengthening
  Author(s): Tariq Rahman, Robert E. Akins, Jinyong Wee and William G. MackenzieTariq Rahman, Robert E. Akins, Jinyong Wee and William G. Mackenzie
  
  Complications of limb lengthening include stress on soft tissue, premature consolidation, and bone non-union. This study reports on the development and testing of instrumentation that continually measures distraction forces in rabbits with the aim of relating the forces developed to bone growth and muscle physiology. A full bridge strain gage resistor set mounted to a unilateral distractor measured distraction force and stored the data on a self-contained logger attached to a jacket worn by the rabbit. Two rabbits underwent limb lengthening on one hind leg. Lengthening was set at 0.5 mm/ day, twice per day for a total of 12 mm. Tibialis anterior muscle and proximal and distal tibial growth plates from the operated and control legs were harvested after euthanasia for histomorphometric analysis. Radiographs were taken periodically throughout lengthening. Force data show characteristic o.. Read More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2155-9538.1000104

  Abstract PDF