Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Design and evaluation of a novel device to facilitate long bone fracture reduction. Fixing broken bones first requires reconstructing the fractured pieces before permanent hardware can be attached to stabilize the bone. In fixing the femur (thigh bone), fractures are most commonly treated with a long nail placed surgically down the centre of the bone. Alignment of the fractured fragments is generally accomplished manually to allow an initial wire to be placed down the canal before the nail is inserted. However current methods of fracture reduction remain technically challenging and are often time consuming extending the patient's time in the operating room. The objective of the proposed research is to design and evaluate a device that facilitates the initial reduction of fractured long bones. The performance of the device (prototype) will be tested in its ability to reconstruct fractured femurs using a jig that enables simulation of consistent fracture displacement and compared to the standard fracture reduction technique. Performance will also be evaluated based on the time, radiation exposure and forces required to realign each fracture, as well as ease of use, potential user challenges and overall surgeon satisfaction. The potential for reducing operative times with this device may translate into both improved outcomes and reduced health care costs for fracture reconstruction of the femur and other long bones.