Joint slippage in the Hoffmann external fixator: No effect of loading rate in bench experiments

Abstract

For tibial fractures, half-frames, such as the Hoffmann fixation device, sometimes fail when subjected to weight-bearing loads. Because the joints of the Hoffmann system are known to slip, which could lead to frame failure, three interfaces of the standard Hoffmann joint were tested at different clamp torques and different rates of load application. No difference in mean slippage values was noted for any interface at similar clamp torques. Joint slippage and any subsequent frame failure are thus not related to rate of load application, but to the magnitude of the load alone.