Mechanical Properties and Comparisons of Cerclage Wires of Various Diameters in Different Knot Methods

The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of 0.6 and 0.8 mm cerclage wires with the 1.0 mm cerclage wire in the twist, single-loop, double-loop, double-wrap, and loop/twist knot methods. Six stainless steel cerclage wires of various diameters in different knot methods were tied round a customized jig mounted on a load testing machine. The initial tension, initial stiffness, and yield load were evaluated. The failure mode of each cerclage was observed. For each wire size, the double-loop, double-wrap, and loop/twist knots showed significantly greater initial stiffness, and yield load than those seen with twist and single-loop knots. The single-loop knot showed the least initial stiffness regardless of the diameter. As the cerclage wire diameter increased, the cerclage tended to show significantly greater initial stiffness, and yield load. Failure modes varied depending on the knot configurations. Single-loop knots of smaller-diameter wires less than 1 mm had similar or lower initial tension, initial stiffness, and yield load than a twist knot. Owing to the variance in mechanical properties, the clinical application of the knot type should depend on the diameter of the cerclage wire.