Fracture Location Research Articles

Low-cycle fatigue properties and fracture location transition mechanism of dissimilar steel welded joints in towers of wind turbines

This study investigates the low-cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior of two types of dissimilar steel welded joints (DSWJs): AISI 1035 & S550Q and AISI 1020 & S550Q. Digital image correlation (DIC) and finite element analysis (FEA) were used to analyze the heterogeneous strain distribution. The results reveal that the location of maximum strain, which is load-dependent and related to strength mismatch, corresponds to the fracture location of the LCF specimens. Specifically, the crack initiation site shifts from the weld toe to the base metal as strain increases. Moreover, the weld reinforcement of the DSWJs significantly affects the failure site transition, introducing strain concentration at lower stress levels while enhancing deformation resistance at higher stress levels, as evidenced by DIC strain measurements and FEA. These findings highlight the importance of joint reinforcement profile, strength mismatch and external load level in designing DSWJs for wind turbine towers against LCF failure.

Characteristics of stitching holes in plain-woven SiCf/SiC and its influence on tensile behavior

A certain number of stitching holes are randomly distributed in SiCf/SiC composites prepared by CVI method. The existence of these stitching holes disrupts the continuity of the internal fiber bundles and has a certain influence on the mechanical properties of the materials. In order to study the influence of stitching holes on the tensile behavior of plain-woven SiCf/SiC, this paper uses CT technology to scan the interior of plain-woven SiCf/SiC to obtain the morphology and distribution of the internal stitching holes. Then, cells containing stitching holes were modeled to study the influence of different characteristics of stitching holes on the tensile behavior of SiCf/SiC. Finally, the tensile behavior and damage process of the cell with stitching hole at the fracture location of the specimen and the cell with stitching hole near the fracture location were studied by modeling the specimen level cell with the thickness of the specimen. The conclusions are as follows: (1) A certain number of stitching holes were randomly distributed inside the specimen. The inclination angles of the stitching holes are mostly 70°–80°, and the radius of the stitching holes is mostly 0.25 mm–0.28 mm (2) The influence of stitching hole characteristics on the tensile behavior of plain-woven SiCf/SiC is as follows: Position > Hole radius > Inclination angle. Among the positional characteristics, the Type-Ⅱ model has the greatest influence on the weakening of the tensile behavior due to more pronounced stress concentration phenomenon. (3) The stitching hole at the edge of the specimen has the greatest influence on the weakening of the specimen strength and is accompanied by obvious stress concentration. In the section containing the stitching holes, the maximum local stresses in the fiber bundle and matrix are about 1.5 times that of the other two models, resulting in earlier damage initiation and faster accumulation.

Recovery of Comfort and Capability After Upper Extremity Fracture Is Predominantly Associated With Mindset: A Longitudinal Cohort From the United Kingdom

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relative influence of mindset and fracture severity on 9-month recovery trajectories of pain and capability after upper extremity fractures. METHODS: Design: Secondary use of longitudinal data. Setting: Single Level-1 trauma center in Oxford, United Kingdom. Patient selection: English-speaking adults with isolated proximal humerus, elbow, or distal radius fracture managed operatively or nonoperatively were included, and those with multiple fractures or cognitive deficit were excluded. Outcome measures and comparisons: Incapability (Quick-DASH) and pain intensity (11-point rating scale) were measured at baseline, 2–4 weeks, and 6–9 months after injury. Cluster analysis was used to identify statistical groupings of mindset (PROMIS Depression and Anxiety, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia) and fracture severity (low/moderate/high based on OTA/AO classification). The recovery trajectories of incapability and pain intensity for each mindset grouping were assessed, accounting for various fracture-related aspects. RESULTS: Among 703 included patients (age 59 ± 21 years, 66% women, 16% high-energy injury), 4 statistical groupings with escalating levels of distress and unhelpful thoughts were identified (fracture severity was omitted considering it had no differentiating effect). Groups with less healthy mindset had a worse baseline incapability (group 2: β = 4.1, 3: β = 7.5, and 4: β = 17) and pain intensity (group 3: β = 0.70 and 4: β = 1.4) (P < 0.01). Higher fracture severity (β = 4.5), high-energy injury (β = 4.0), and nerve palsy (β = 8.1) were associated with worse baseline incapability (P < 0.01), and high-energy injury (β = 0.62) and nerve palsy (β = 0.76) with worse baseline pain intensity (P < 0.01). Groups 3 and 4 had a prolonged rate of recovery of incapability (β = 1.3, β = 7.0) and pain intensity (β = 0.19, β = 1.1) (P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with higher levels of unhelpful thinking and feelings of distress regarding symptoms experienced worse recovery of pain and incapability, with a higher effect size than fracture location, fracture severity, high-energy injury, and nerve palsy. These findings underline the importance of anticipating and addressing mental health concerns during recovery from injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Deformation and microregion fracture mechanisms in type 316L welded joint under isothermal and thermo-mechanical fatigue loadings

Isothermal (IF) and thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) tests were conducted on 316L welded joints to investigate the effects of phase angle (in-phase (IP), clockwise-diamond (CD), and out-of-phase (OP)) and mechanical strain amplitude (±0.4 %, ±0.5 %, ±0.6 %) on deformation and microregion fracture mechanisms. Results reveal that increasing strain amplitude induces a higher softening rate, reduced fatigue life, and more pronounced dynamic strain aging (DSA). Nevertheless, there is a complicated discrepancy in the cyclic deformation between various phase angles. At high strain amplitudes, local embrittlement along the austenite/δ-ferrite interface induces cracking in the weld metal (WM) under both IF and TMF loadings, with TMF life increasing with phase angle. At a lower strain amplitude of 0.4 %, however, fracture location migration and different TMF life were observed. Microstructural analysis reveals that during TMF a lower strain amplitude of 0.4 %, the microstructure in both base metal (BM) and WM evolves from simple planar structures to low-energy substructures, characterized by an increase in kernel average misorientation, geometrically necessary dislocations, and low-angle grain boundaries, together with a reduction in high-angle grain boundaries and twin boundaries. In the WM, increasing phase angle tends to reduce dislocation density and reproduces planar dislocation structures due to enhanced DSA, thereby lowering cellular structure maturity. Conversely, in the BM, dislocation proliferation and interaction intensify, enhancing cellular structure maturity and de-twinning effect, which reduces BM fracture resistance and causes fracture migration from the WM to the BM. Moreover, active DSA under CD loading improves deformation resistance in both microregions, prolonging fatigue life and contributing to the observed different TMF life.

Study of GTA-Welded Joints of ZW61 Magnesium Alloy — Effect of Welding Current on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

An attempt has been made to weld ZW61 magnesium alloy extruded plates by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). In this paper, the zone with the largest average grain size in the welded joint was the fusion zone (FZ) rather than the heat-affected zone (HAZ). The grains of the FZ were nearly equiaxed, and their average size increased gradually with the increase of welding current. Simultaneously, the mechanical properties of the joints decreased with the increase of welding current under the set conditions of this experiment. The optimum mechanical properties of the joints were obtained at a welding current of 100 A. Their ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and elongation (EL) were 230 MPa, 103 MPa, and 19.2%, respectively, while the joint efficiency (σb / σb BM) was only 77.7%. The fracture locations of all the joints were found in the FZ. Excessive grain size was one of the significant factors contributing to the weakness of this zone. In addition, the semicontinuous second phase on the grain boundary induced high-stress concentrations, contributing to the fracture of the welded joint. The tensile properties of the joints can be improved by limiting heat input.

Internal damage evolution of C/SiC composites in air at 1650 °C studied by in-situ synchrotron X-ray imaging

Carbon fibre reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) ceramic matrix composites have attracted considerable attention due to their exceptional properties and extensive potential applications as high-temperature structural materials. However, due to their complex structure and manufacturing defects, C/SiC composites exhibit intricate mechanical behaviour under thermal-mechanical-oxidative coupling environments. To date, systematic studies on the internal damage evolution and failure mechanisms of C/SiC composites under high-temperature oxidative environments are lacking. In this study, a combination of synchrotron X-ray micro-computed tomography (SR-μCT) and in-situ experiments under thermal-mechanical-oxidative coupling environments at room temperature and 1650 °C in air was used to characterize the internal microstructures and damage evolution processes of C/SiC composites at different loading levels. Additionally, the 3D strain fields during in-situ loading were quantitatively analysed using the Digital Volume Correlation (DVC) method. The findings underscore the substantial impact of oxidative damage on the mechanical response of C/SiC composites, particularly concerning tensile properties and fracture modes. At room temperature, severe delamination, fibre bundle pull-out and interfacial debonding occurred internally. Whereas, under high-temperature atmospheric conditions, severe fibre oxidation reactions occurred at the specimen edges, resulting in rapid porosity escalation. Crack initiation from surface defects followed by rapid inward propagation is observed. Moreover, while the strain distribution remains relatively uniform until fracture, a pronounced concentration of strain is evident near the fracture zones at room temperature, with an even greater concentration observed at 1650 °C. Notably, the region of concentrated strain within the 3D deformation field corresponds closely to the final fracture location, as revealed by quantitative DVC analysis.

Rib Fractures in Trauma Patients: Prevalence, Associated Injuries, and Mortality Trends.

Introduction Rib fractures are a common consequence of thoracic trauma, often signaling the presence of additional injuries and increasing the risk of mortality. This study aimed to elucidate the frequency, patterns, and mortality rates associated with rib fractures in multitrauma patients and to explore the association between rib fractures and other systemic injuries. Methods In a retrospective observational study at a tertiary care hospital, electronic medical records of multi-trauma patients over a four-year period were examined. Inclusion criteria encompassed adult patients who had undergone whole-body or chest and abdomen CT imaging. The study evaluated the incidence and location of rib fractures, associated thoracic and intra-abdominal injuries, and the in-hospital mortality rate. Results Among the 1,338 patients analyzed, rib fractures were identified in 273 (20.4%), with a median age of 33 years and 199 (72.9%) were male. Motor vehicle accidents were the most common trauma mechanism with a rate of 52% (n=142). Patients with rib fractures had significantly higher occurrences of pneumothorax (25.3%), hemothorax (20.9%), and intra-abdominal injuries (17.5%) (p<0.001). Notably, patients with six or more rib fractures exhibited a higher frequency of liver, spleen, and kidney injuries (p=0.003, p=0.011, p=0.001, respectively). The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.9% (n=17) for patients with rib fractures, significantly higher than those without (p<0.001). Conclusion Rib fractures in multi-trauma patients are an important indicator of severe concurrent injuries and are associated with a higher mortality rate. These findings advocate for a systemic and immediate evaluation of patients with rib fractures upon presentation in emergency departments to improve survival outcomes.

Traumatic Periprosthetic Fractures Following Total Ankle Replacement A Systematic Review and Proposed Classification

Total ankle replacements (TAR) are increasingly utilized, but postoperative traumatic periprosthetic fractures remain a rare yet challenging complication. This systematic review aims to address the gap in literature by proposing a comprehensive classification system for these fractures, considering implant stability, fracture location, and surrounding bone quality. A systematic review identified 13 cases from 9 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Fractures were categorized using the proposed Hill-Brown classification: Type A (talus or fibula), Type B (distal tibial component), and Type C (diaphysis/proximal tibial metaphysis). Implant stability was a key factor, with Type B fractures further classified as B1 (stable), B2 (unstable with adequate bone stock), and B3 (unstable with poor bone stock). Most fractures occurred at or near the distal tibial component (Type B), with implant stability largely dependent on fracture location and bone quality. Surgical fixation, particularly minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) with locking plates, was the preferred treatment for stable implants, showing low complication rates. Unstable implants often required revision TAR or conversion to arthrodesis. Surgical intervention is recommended following all traumatic periprosthetic fractures in the setting of a TAR. Bone quality, particularly in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis, significantly impacted treatment decisions. Our findings emphasize the importance of fracture location, implant stability, and bone quality in managing these fractures. Future multicenter studies are necessary to validate this classification system and refine treatment protocols. Level of Evidence: Level III

Revealing complex subsurface dynamics with continuous seismic monitoring: Observations using distributed acoustic sensing and surface orbital vibrators during hydraulic fracturing

Understanding hydraulic fracturing is crucial to improving the stimulation of unconventional reservoirs and increasing fluid production. This study develops a novel seismic monitoring technology using distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and surface orbital vibrators (SOV) to capture fracture seismic response and mechanical properties at high temporal intervals. We analyze continuous time-lapse vertical seismic profiling (VSP) data acquired every hour during the first nine days of treatment of an unconventional reservoir in the Austin Chalk/Eagle Field Laboratory. The VSP data contain clear seismic signals scattered from the activated fractures. The spatiotemporal changes of the fracture reflectivity revealed by the SOV/DAS data correlate well with the observations of fracture locations inferred from low-frequency DAS data. These results capture the fracture opening and closure processes, as well as highlight potential prestage activations of the fractures due to hydraulic connectivity with preexisting fracture systems. Therefore, analysis of the presented data set provides a unique opportunity to understand fracture initiation and subsequent evolution, not only in the context of unconventional resources but also in enhanced geothermal systems.

Determination of distal fibula fracture for prediction of ankle injuries

Objective This study quantified the local fracture tolerance of the distal fibula. The purpose of this data is to refine the understanding of ankle fracture tolerance in the population and enhance injury prediction by computational tools. Methods Fracture patterns of the fibula were obtained from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Crash Injury Research Engineering Network (CIREN). Of 143 cases of ankle injury, 120 included fibula fracture, many of which accompanied by radiology images. The most common fibula fracture type was a Weber C fracture, which was then used as the testing target to replicate with postmortem human surrogates. Isolated distal fibulae (male and female, across a wide anthropometric range) were subjected to quasi-static lateral-medial four-point bending superimposed on axial precompression. Results Of the 20 specimens tested, 17 fractured in compression and bending, two fractured in compression, bending, and shear, and one did not fracture upon the imposed displacement. Fractures occurring outside of the target testing span were treated as right-censored data points. Fracture patterns varied among specimens, with oblique fractures being most common, followed by segmental fractures. At failure, compressive force ranged from 77 N to 370 N and bending moment from 17 Nm to 47 Nm. Conclusions From the 19 fractured specimens, the variety of fracture patterns observed were generally consistent with the range of fibula fracture types and locations commonly observed in the field. While comparative studies with fibula specimens are largely absent from literature, comparison of this study to other long bones (radius and ulna) show that bending moment at fracture is similar. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to quantify the fracture tolerance of isolated distal fibulae under loading conditions representative of ankle injury mechanisms in motor vehicle collisions. By combining the results of this study with complementary results from parallel tibia-focused experiments (currently in-press), these results will aid development of tissue-level lower leg fracture prediction of human body models, thus enhancing prediction of ankle injury during safety assessment simulations. Specifically, the fracture tolerance information might generate an injury risk function to guide tissue-level injury prediction with human body models.

The epidemiology of geriatric fractures: A nationwide analysis of 1 million fractures

ObjectiveFractures among the geriatric population impose a substantial burden on healthcare systems. This study aims to investigate the incidence and distribution of fractures among geriatric individuals over seven years, analyzing changes by age and sex. The findings will inform national healthcare strategies for addressing the growing impact of geriatric fractures. Materials and methodsElectronic health records from a nationwide personal health records system were analyzed, focusing on ICD-10 codes for fractures. Recurrent codes for the same patients within three months were excluded. Patients were categorized into three age groups (65–74, 75–84, and 85+ years), and fractures were grouped anatomically. Incidence rates for specific fracture locations were calculated based on the actual population at risk annually. Incidence rates were further stratified by sex and age groups using Turkey's age- and sex-specific populations. ResultsA total of 1,004,663 geriatric fractures (66.9 % female, 33.1 % male) were identified over seven years. The overall fracture incidence among the geriatric population was 1.9 % (1910/100,000). Hip fractures were the most common (25.2 %), followed by wrist (15 %) and lumbar-pelvic fractures (11.9 %). Femur fractures were predominant in the 75–84 and 85+ age groups, while wrist fractures were more common in the 65–74 age group. Fracture incidences generally increased with age, except for ankle, foot, and toe fractures, which decreased with age for both sexes (p < 0.05). The male/female ratio was lowest for wrist, elbow, and humeral shaft fractures (1:3.2, 1:2.7, and 1:2.7, respectively). The lowest overall fracture incidence was observed in 2020 (1568/100,000), while the highest was in 2017 (2523/100,000). ConclusionWith Turkey's aging population, the socioeconomic impact of geriatric fractures is anticipated to rise. Fracture patterns and incidence vary by age and sex among geriatric individuals. These findings provide valuable insights for healthcare planning and the development of community-based preventive measures tailored to specific fracture locations and demographics.

PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE TOMOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF CONDYLE FIXATION AND MANDIBULAR FRACTURE: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) is crucial for the evaluation of mandibular fractures, especially in complex areas such as the condylar region. Its ability to provide detailed images in multiple planes has improved surgical planning and post-operative monitoring, offering precise information on the location and characteristics of fractures. Objective: This integrative review aims to analyze how tomographic aspects impact surgical planning and postoperative monitoring of condylar and mandibular fractures. The study discusses the advantages and limitations of tomographic techniques in order to understand how they influence the clinical outcome and rehabilitation of patients. Materials and Methods: An integrative literature review was carried out, without the need for submission to the Ethics Committee, in accordance with the guidelines of Normative Instruction No. 510/2016. The search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, and expanded with Google Scholar. Results and Discussion: The analysis revealed that cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides high-resolution three-dimensional images, which are essential for the accurate assessment of fractures, especially in complex anatomical areas such as the mandibular condyle. Conclusion: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is an indispensable tool for the management of condyle and mandible fractures. Its use in preoperative and post-fixation monitoring facilitates detailed visualization of anatomical structures, improving the precision of surgical interventions and contributing to superior functional and aesthetic results.

Microwave Technique for Linear Skull Fracture Detection-Simulation and Experimental Study Using Realistic Human Head Models.

Microwave (MW) sensing is regarded as a promising technique for various medical monitoring and diagnostic applications due to its numerous advantages and the potential to be developed into a portable device for use outside hospital settings. The detection of skull fractures and the monitoring of their healing process would greatly benefit from a rapidly and frequently usable application that can be employed outside the hospital. This paper presents a simulation- and experiment-based study on skull fracture detection with the MW technique using realistic models for the first time. It also presents assessments on the most promising frequency ranges for skull fracture detection within the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) and ultrawideband (UWB) ranges. Evaluations are carried out with electromagnetic simulations using different head tissue layer models corresponding to different locations in the human head, as well as an anatomically realistic human head simulation model. The measurements are conducted with a real human skull combined with tissue phantoms developed in our laboratory. The comprehensive evaluations show that fractures cause clear differences in antenna and channel parameters (S11 and S21). The difference in S11 is 0.1-20 dB and in S21 is 0.1-30 dB, depending on the fracture width and location. Skull fractures with a less than 1 mm width can be detected with microwaves at different fracture locations. The detectability is frequency dependent. Power flow representations illustrate how fractures impact on the signal propagation at different frequencies. MW-based detection of skull fractures provides the possibility to (1) detect fractures using a safe and low-cost portable device, (2) monitor the healing-process of fractures, and (3) bring essential information for emerging portable MW-based diagnostic applications that can detect, e.g., strokes.

Automated Association for Osteosynthesis Foundation and Orthopedic Trauma Association classification of pelvic fractures on pelvic radiographs using deep learning

High-energy impacts, like vehicle crashes or falls, can lead to pelvic ring injuries. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are crucial due to the risks of severe bleeding and organ damage. Pelvic radiography promptly assesses fracture extent and location, but struggles to diagnose bleeding. The AO/OTA classification system grades pelvic instability, but its complexity limits its use in emergency settings. This study develops and evaluates a deep learning algorithm to classify pelvic fractures on radiographs per the AO/OTA system. Pelvic radiographs of 773 patients with pelvic fractures and 167 patients without pelvic fractures were retrospectively analyzed at a single center. Pelvic fractures were classified into types A, B, and C using medical records categorized by an orthopedic surgeon according to the AO/OTA classification system. Accuracy, Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC), and F1 score were measured to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the deep learning algorithms. The segmentation model showed high performance with 0.98 accuracy and 0.96–0.97 DSC. The AO/OTA classification model demonstrated effective performance with a 0.47–0.80 F1 score and 0.69–0.88 accuracy. Additionally, the classification model had a macro average of 0.77–0.94. Performance evaluation of the models showed relatively favorable results, which can aid in early classification of pelvic fractures.

The Impact of Welding Parameters on the Welding Strength of High Borosilicate Glass and Aluminum Alloy

This study adopts a new surface pretreatment method, Laser Surface Remelting (LSR). This experiment aims to establish a set of laser welding process parameters suitable for aluminum alloy and glass under this specific pretreatment. This experiment explores the impact of laser welding parameters on the welding strength between high borosilicate glass and aluminum alloy. The study specifically investigates the effects of four process parameters: defocus amount, laser power, frequency, and pulse width on the welding outcome. The results indicate that the welding quality between the aluminum alloy and glass reaches its optimum when the defocus amount is zero (i.e., when the laser converges at the interface between the glass and the metal) and the laser welding parameters are set to a power of 250 W, a welding speed of 1 mm/s, a welding frequency of 10 Hz, and a pulse width of 2.5 ms. The experiment also analyzes the fracture morphology under different parameters, summarizing the locations and causes of fractures, and establishing the relationship between the fracture location and the welding strength.

The Feasibility Study of Bone Fracture Assessment Based on Photoacoustic Time-of-Flight Method

Abstract Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) technology combines the advantages of acoustic resolution and optical contrast imaging within deep tissue. The commonly clinically used bone fracture detection and evaluation method is X-ray based imaging techniques. In order to study the feasibility of human radius fractures detection in non-radiation and non-invasive way, this study combined the time-of-flight (TOF) method commonly used in industrial nondestructive testing with photoacoustic technology for the detection and location of bone fractures. Firstly, the bone fracture information carried by PA signal was studied by simulating the bone models with different locations of bone fractures. The finite difference time domain (FDTD) method was used to simulate the propagation process of photoacoustic signal in bone tissue. Secondly, the PATOF diagrams formed by PA signals at different locations is obtained by using laser fixed and ultrasonic detector motion detection method. Finally, the PATOF diagrams are further analyzed and quantified. The results show that the photoacoustic bone detection method based on TOF method can effectively locate the fracture location. This study confirms the feasibility of combining PAI technique with TOF method to detect bone fractures, which indicates that PAI technique has great application prospect in bone detection field.

Corrosion fatigue cracking behaviors of Q690qE high‐strength bridge steel as a weld joint in simulated marine environment

AbstractCorrosion fatigue behavior and mechanism of the weld joint of Q690qE high‐strength bridge steel was investigated in a simulated marine environment. It reveals the sub‐critical heat‐affected zone (SCHAZ) and coarse‐grained heat‐affected zone (CGHAZ) are the most vulnerable sites to corrosion fatigue cracking. The CGHAZ of the Q690qE steel weld joint was prone to corrosion fatigue initiation mainly because of micro‐galvanic corrosion between CGHAZ and weld metal (WM). The corrosion fatigue failure in SCHAZ mainly resulted from local stress/strain concentration due to weld softening. The final fracture location was determined by the competition between these two effects.

Fracture Characterization Via AI‐Assisted Analysis of Temperature Logs

AbstractFractures control fluid flow, mass transport, and heat transfer in a geothermal reservoir. This makes accurate characterization of fracture networks a prerequisite for optimal design and control of a reservoir's exploitation. We develop a deep‐learning procedure to identify fracture locations via interpretation of temporally and spatially continuous downhole temperature measurements. A long short‐term memory fully convolutional network (LSTM‐FCN) is used both to capture long‐term dependencies in sequential temperature data and to distill local features around fractures. A wellbore and fractured‐reservoir thermal model is established to generate temperature data for network training. The trained LSTM‐FCN exhibits a unique ability to detect multiple fractures intersecting a borehole. We use the LSTM‐FCN algorithm to evaluate the effectiveness of different‐stage wellbore temperature measurements on fracture detection in a complex fractured system. Our experiments reveal that the use of various‐stage temperature information as an input feature set improves the robustness of fracture detection to noise interference. This study indicates the practical feasibility of obtaining accurate fracture‐network reconstructions from temperature signals, at reasonable computational cost.

Comparative analysis of shear bond strength of MTA and Theracal PT with different restorative materials

BackgroundThis study aimed to compare the in vitro shear bond strength (SBS) of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and dual-cured, resin-modified calcium silicate material (Theracal PT) to composite resin, compomer, and bulk-fill composite, and to evaluate the bond failure mode under a stereomicroscope.MethodsNinety acrylic specimens, each with a 4 mm diameter and 2 mm height central hole, were prepared. These specimens were randomly divided into two groups based on the capping materials: MTA and Theracal PT. Each group was further subdivided into three subgroups (n = 15) according to the restorative materials: composite resin, compomer, and bulk-fill composite. The specimens were then subjected to shear testing using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Post-test, the fracture locations were examined using a stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey test.ResultsThe SBS values for the Theracal PT group were significantly higher than those for the MTA group (p < 0.001). Within the MTA groups, no significant differences were observed in SBS values across the different restorative materials. However, a significant difference was found between the mean SBS values of the Theracal PT + composite resin group and the Theracal PT + compomer group (p < 0.001).ConclusionsTheracal PT shows promise in dentistry due to its superior bond strength. Given its bond values, Theracal PT appears capable of forming durable and long-lasting restorations by establishing reliable bonds with various restorative materials commonly used in dentistry.

Outcomes After Implementation of a Fragility Fracture Pathway in Ground Level Falls

IntroductionFragility fractures occur due to low energy mechanisms and result in significant morbidity and mortality. This study reviews the implementation of a fragility fracture program at a level I trauma center. In this pathway, trauma surgery provides clearance followed by admission and management with medical service and orthopedic consultation for injuries which meet fragility fracture criteria. MethodsThis pathway, implemented in July 2021, includes patients with isolated fractures secondary to a low energy mechanism. We compared cohorts 2-ys before (PRE) and after (POS) pathway implementation. Demographics (age, sex, fracture location, injury severity score, American Society of Anesthesiologists score) and outcome data were collected and analyzed using between-subjects analyses. Measured outcomes included deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism, hospital mortality, disposition to hospice, nonoperative rate, unplanned intensive care unit admission, time to surgery (TTS), and length of stay (LOS). ResultsThe study included n = 1137 patients (n = 564 PRE and n = 573 POS). POS patients had a higher injury severity score (P = 0.003) and different fracture location (P = 0.017), but no other demographics were different. Trauma admission decreased after implementation (P < 0.001; PRE: 21.5%, POS: 1.8%) with no differences in outcomes except increases in LOS (P < 0.001; PRE: 114 h, POS: 124 h) and TTS (P < 0.001; PRE: 15 h, POS: 18 h). ConclusionsMorbidity and mortality did not correlate with pathway implementation; however, TTS and LOS increased. Although TTS increased, it remained under the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery 48-h recommendation. The TTS and LOS increases were potentially from COVID-19 or cohort demographic differences. Decreased trauma as admitting service demonstrates pathway adherence. These findings highlight the need for investigation to better understand fragility fracture pathways.