Introduction: Double-loop cerclage wire is biomechanically superior to other cerclage techniques
but is typically applied with a somewhat cumbersome double-handle wire tightener (DHWT).
The single-handle wire tightener (SHWT) is easier to use in the authors’ clinical
experience, but there are no biomechanical studies evaluating its use with double-loop
cerclage wire. The goal of this study was to compare resting tension, acute load to
failure, and cycles resisted of double-loop cerclage wire applied by SHWT versus DHWT.
Materials and Methods: Double-loop cerclage wires (18G) were applied by a small animal surgery resident
or a board-certified surgeon to a testing apparatus using either a SHWT or DHWT in
a random sequence. Each wire was evaluated for resting tension (N), acute load to
failure (N), and the number of cycles resisted at 80% of the determined mean maximum
tension.
Results: A total of 112 wires were tested within the study with 56 wires evaluated for tension
and acute load to failure testing and 56 wires evaluated for cyclic testing. There
was no significant difference between the SHWT and DHWT when evaluating resting tension
(p = 0.107) and the number of cycles resisted (p = 0.595). Acute load to failure for the SHWT was higher compared with the DHWT (p = 0.001).
Discussion/Conclusion: There was no significant difference between a double loop cerclage wire applied with
a SHWT versus a DHWT. The SHWT should be considered for clinical use in the application
of 18G double-loop cerclage wire because it is easier to use than the DHWT.
Acknowledgment
This study was funded by the 2023 to 2024 Purdue University Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Graduate Student Competitive Research Fund.
