Fixation with suture anchors and metallic hardware for osteosynthesis is common in orthopedic surgeries. Most metallic commercial bone anchors achieve their fixation to bone through shear of the bone located between the threads. They have several deficiencies, including stress-shielding due to mechanical properties mismatch, generation of acidic by-products, poor osteointegration, low mechanical strength and catastrophic failure often associated with large bone defects that may be difficult to repair. To overcome these deficiencies, a swelling porous copolymeric material, to be used as bone anchors with osteointegration potential, was introduced. The purpose of this study was to investigate the fixation strength of these porous, swelling copolymeric bone anchors in artificial bone of various densities. The pull-out and subsidence studies indicate an effective fixation mechanism based on friction including re-fixation capabilities, and minimization of damage following complete failure. The study suggests that this swelling porous structure may provide an effective alternative to conventional bone anchors, particularly in low-density bone.
Keywords: biomaterials; biomechanics; bone; implant fixation; surgical repair.
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