Teststar iis system version 2

Following μCT, rats underwent biomechanical testing. The mandibles were harvested en-bloc, split between the incisors, and frozen at −20°C until testing. The posterior aspect of the mandible was placed into an open cylindrical shaped “pot” using a heated bismuth alloy (Cerrobend, Cerro Products, Bellefont, PA, USA) that, once cooled, secured the mandible in place. The potted mandibles were loaded to failure in uniaxial monotonic tension at 0.5 mm/s using a servohydraulic testing machine (858 Minibiox II; MTS Systems Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN, USA). Crosshead displacement was recorded by using an external variable differential transducer (LVDT; Lucas Schavitts, Hampton, VA, USA), and load data were collected with a 100-lb load cell (Sensotec, Columbus, OH, USA). Data were sampled at 200 Hz on a TestStar system (TestStar IIs System version 2.4; MTS Systems Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN, USA). Load-displacement curves were analyzed for whole bone ultimate load (UL), intrinsic stiffness (S), yield load (Y), failure load (FL), and elastic energy using custom computational code (MATLAB 7.11; Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA, USA).

Bony union was determined clinically and defined as solid bony bridging and an absence of motion across the graft interfaces on palpation after plate removal. Mandibles were then potted and loaded to failure in uniaxial monotonic tension at 0.5 mm/s using a servohydraulic 858 Minibiox II testing machine (MTS Systems Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN). Crosshead displacement was recorded using an external linear variable differential transducer (LVDT; Lucas Schavitts, Hampton, VA), and load data was collected with a 100-lb load cell (Sensotec, Columbus, OH). Data was sampled at 200 Hz on a TestStar system (TestStar IIs System version 2.4; MTS Systems Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN). Load-displacement curves were analyzed for ultimate load, failure load, and stiffness using custom computational code (MATLAB 7.11; Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA).

After imaging, both the anterior and posterior ends of the mandibles were potted in bismuth and loaded to failure in uniaxial monotonic tension at 0.5 mm/s using a servohydraulic testing machine (858 Minibiox II; MTS Systems Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN, USA). Crosshead displacement was recorded by using an external variable differential transducer (LVDT; Lucas Schavitts, Hampton, VA, USA), and load data were collected with a 100-lb load cell (Sensotec, Columbus, OH, USA). Data were sampled at 200 Hz on a TestStar system (TestStar IIs System version 2.4; MTS Systems Corporation, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Load-displacement curves were analyzed for whole bone yield load (Y), failure energy (E), ultimate load (UL), failure load (FL) and elastic energy (EE) using custom computational code (MATLAB 7.11; Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA, USA).