Category: Health Services

Tags: femur shaft fracture

The engineering principle of the tension band is extensively used in fracture fixation. It applies to the conversion of tensile forces to compression forces on the convex aspect of an eccentrically loaded bone. In a femoral mid-diaphyseal fracture, axial load opens of the lateral cortex and angulates the distal fragment into varus. This type of fracture can be stabilized by using a plate as a tension band.