Effect of simulated intraoperative heating and shaping on mechanical properties of a bioabsorbable fracture plate material.
Heating bioabsorbable fracture fixation plates to above their glass transition temperature renders them temporarily malleable, thus facilitating their adaptation to the underlying bone geometry, although the consequence of heating is not well understood. Poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer specimens were heated under various conditions, and the effects on specimen mechanics were assessed. Heating temporarily increased toughness while slight reducing flexural modulus. No lasting effects on in vitro material degradation were seen.
Pietrzak
W S
WS
Biomet, Inc., Airport Industrial Park Warsaw, Indiana 46580, USA.
Sarver
D R
DR
Bianchini
S D
SD
D'Alessio
K
K
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid