Assessment of heat generation and its effect during cortical bone drilling using infrared camera and histology

Abstract

Orthopedic bone drilling involves human as a part of action thus the role of drilling must be concise with its prime objective only. Excess heat generation and physical damage during drilling will lead to extended problems i.e. osteonecrosis and permanent death to the bone cells. To avoid that particular lose to the bone the heat generation should be as low as possible. In this study, an experiment is performed on bovine bone with varying rotational speed (600, 800, 1000, 1200 RPM) while keeping all other drilling parameters constant. Heat generation during bone drilling is measured using thermal imaging camera. After experiments, the histology examinations are performed to observe by morphological changes in drilled bones. From results, heat generation is observed to be increased with the rotational speed and results are shown with the help of thermo-graphic images. Histopathology of drilled bone specimens is also carried out for better understanding of changes in morphology of bone with change in temperature raise during bone drilling. Results conclude that heat generation in bone drilling is strongly concord with drill rotational speed (P≤0.014). Histopathology of drilled bones shows that level of osteonecrosis is increased in terms of number of empty lacunas with temperature raise.