A comparison of the strength and stability of six techniques of cerclage wire fixation for fractures.

An in vitro comparison of six methods of cerclage wire fixation was performed using 1-mm-diameter stainless steel wire. A testing apparatus was designed to simulate the tensile forces on a cerclage wire around a femoral shaft fracture. The hairpin cerclage knot that we describe generated significantly higher initial compressive force (p < 0.001) and had significantly higher tensile strength (p < 0.02) compared with the other five methods.