Holding power of bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly-L/DL-lactide 70/30 tacks and miniscrews in human cadaver bone

J Craniofac Surg. 2003 Mar;14(2):171-5. doi: 10.1097/00001665-200303000-00007.

Abstract

Several bioabsorbable internal fixation systems are currently in use in the field of bone surgery. To test the mechanical properties of recently developed amorphous self-reinforced poly-L/DL-lactide [SR-P(L/DL)LA] 70/30 tacks in comparison with commercially available SR-P(L/DL)LA 70/30 (BioSorbFX; Bionx Implants Ltd) miniscrews, SR-P(L/DL)LA miniscrews (length = 6.0 mm, core diameter = 1.5 mm, thread diameter = 2.0 mm) and tacks (length = 5.4 mm, core diameter = 1.5 mm, thread diameter = 2.0 mm) were applied to human cadaveric metatarsal (MT) bones (6 pairs of fourth MT bones and 6 pairs of fifth MT bones from donors who were from 29 to 56 years of age at the time of death). Pullout force was measured using a mechanical testing machine. Forty-eight pullout tests were carried out for each implant type. The Student test, Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman coefficient were used for statistical evaluation. The pullout force of tacks was 135.0 +/- 26.1 N, and that of the miniscrews was 119.3 +/- 26.1 N ( = 0.04, statistically significant difference). Accordingly novel SR-P(L/DL)LA 70/30 tacks have a statistically better pullout strength than the SR-P(L/DL)LA 70/30 miniscrews when tested in cadaver MT bones.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorbable Implants*
  • Adult
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Bone Nails*
  • Bone Screws*
  • Cadaver
  • Dental Stress Analysis / instrumentation
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Lactic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry
  • Metatarsal Bones / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • polylevolactic acid
  • Lactic Acid
  • poly(lactide)