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As anyone knows who has ever had a broken bone, healing takes time. New bony tissue forms to solidify the broken spot, but this process is slow, spreading over weeks or months. When healing is complete, the bone is capable of bearing just as much weight as it did before the fracture. Radiographs can show the presence of new bone, but can’t indicate how strong it is or how much weight it can safely support.

A wireless sensor developed at Colorado State University may be helpful in tracking the strength and weight-bearing ability of healing fractures. This is especially important in fractures that are not healing properly or in comminuted fractures where the bone has been split into numerous small pieces.

Comminuted fractures are often treated by using a metal plate to stabilize the bone fragments as they heal. The plate also serves to bear weight until the bones are strong enough to withstand normal forces. The sensor will transmit data on the changes in load sharing between healing bone and the metal plate, information that will tell surgeons whether healing is progressing properly. The research team that developed the sensor included mechanical engineers, biomedical engineers, an expert in physics and electrical engineering, and both human and veterinary orthopedic surgeons. The device may be applicable to monitoring of fractures in horses, injuries that are often difficult to treat effectively.

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