Current fracture fixation follow-up is based on subjective radiological and clinical examination. Efforts to objectify the procedure have been undertaken since decades. Assessment of implant load as an indirect predictor of callus maturity has so far failed to enter clinical routine due to limited practicability, technical obstacles and its snap-shot nature.

We recently introduced the concept of continuous implant load monitoring to aid in diagnosing fracture healing progression. This study aimed at investigating the feasibility of the system in a clinical context. Ten patients treated with Taylor-Spatial-Frame external fixators following pathological tibia fractures were equipped with a Fracture Monitor device attached to a fixator-strut and were monitored until hardware removal. Two patients were excluded due to technical issues.

Implant load and fracture activity was continuously and autonomously measured for 139 ± 89 days (mean ± SD). Data was wirelessly collected with consumer smartphones. Relative implant load initially rose for 34.1 ± 22.2 days and finally declined to a level of 45.0 ± 33.8% of the maximum implant load. In five patients the load dropped below 50% of the maximum load. These patients underwent hardware removal according to the clinical assessment. In three patients, whose external fixators were exchanged to internal fixation at the end of the study, implant load did not drop below the 50% margin.

The continuous measurement principle allows resolving implant load progression and appears indicative for the bone healing status. Data can be acquired in a homecare setting and is believed to provide valuable information to support timely healing assessment and enable patient specific after-care.

当前的骨折固定随访是基于主观放射学和临床检查。几十年来，一直在努力使该程序客观化。由于实用性有限，技术障碍及其快照性，迄今为止，评估植入物负荷作为愈伤组织成熟度的间接预测指标尚未进入临床常规。

我们最近引入了连续植入物负载监测的概念，以帮助诊断骨折愈合过程。这项研究旨在研究该系统在临床环境中的可行性。在病理性胫骨骨折后，使用Taylor-Spatial-Frame外固定架治疗的10例患者均配备了附着在固定架上的Fracture Monitor设备，并进行了监测，直到取出硬件。由于技术问题，排除了两名患者。

连续并自主地测量植入物负荷和骨折活动139±89天（平均±SD）。数据是通过消费者智能手机无线收集的。相对植入物负荷最初上升了34.1±22.2天，最后下降到最大植入物负荷的45.0±33.8％。在五名患者中，负荷降至最大负荷的50％以下。这些患者根据临床评估进行了硬件移除。在研究结束时将其外固定器更换为内固定的三名患者中，植入物负荷未下降至低于50％的余量。

连续测量原理可以解决植入物的负荷变化，并显示出骨愈合状态。可以在家庭护理环境中获取数据，据信这些数据可提供有价值的信息，以支持及时的康复评估并支持特定患者的后期护理。