Overall wrist biomechanics are conserved by phenol-based embalming.

Abstract

Although cadaveric specimens that have been fresh-frozen then thawed are considered the gold standard for biomechanics research, because they most closely represent in vivo tissues, potential problems include a relatively short useful time-span and risk of infection. A recently reported new method of phenol-based "soft" embalming has been found to preserve tissues in a fresh-like state over an extended period of time and simultaneously reduced infection risks. This study presents radio-ulnar deviation end-range data from 4 soft-embalmed and refrigerated human cadaveric forearm specimens over 12 months. All end-range comparisons were found to be statistically equivalent to within a clinically acceptable range of ±5 degrees of radio-ulnar deviation with a 95% con. dence measure of p < 0.01 in every case. These soft-embalmed specimens provide promising results for further use in biomechanical studies.

• Authors: Andrew W L Dickinson, Craig B Casier, Richard W Sellens, David R Pichora, Randy E Ellis
• Journal: Studies in health technology and informatics (Stud Health Technol Inform) Vol. 196 Pg. 96-100 ( 2014) ISSN: 1879-8365 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 24732488 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Phenols

Topics

• Biomechanical Phenomena
• Cadaver
• Embalming
• Humans
• Phenols
• Pilot Projects
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Wrist (physiology)