*2.3. Statistics*

Independent sample *t*-tests were used to determine significant differences in stiffness, displacement, and mean failure load between screw constructs. A nonparametric alternative (Mann–Whitney U-test) was used if the hypothesis did not satisfy the parametric method. SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), was used for statistical analyses, and statistical significance was set at *p* < 0.05.
