Acetabular fractures of the pelvis require precise reduction and stable internal fixation because of the high loads in the hip joint. Because the high loads in the hip increase the risk of loss of reduction, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is the most common approach to treating such fractures. For such fixation, precise plate–bone conformity is a key determinant of the construct’s mechanical stability. In this thesis, using the finite element method, we numerically evaluated how the degree of plate conformity affects the stability of fixation for a anterior column acetabular fracture. We used the geometry of the open-source VIVA+ human body model. We performed analyses with different screw geometries and examined the effects of contact parameters, mesh characteristics, and material properties on the stability of the numerical model. We also varied the loading modes. The results confirmed that the initial plate conformity influences the final stability of fixation.
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