A Biomechanical Matched-pair Comparison of Two Different Locking Plates for Tibial Diaphyseal Comminuted Fracture: Carbon Fiber-reinforced Poly-ether-ether-ketone (CF-PEEK) Versus Titanium Plates

Overview

Journal J Orthop Surg Res

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2020 Nov 24

PMID 33228695

Citations 6

Authors

Kaihua Zhou

Xiaojian He

Xingguang Tao

Fugen Pan

Huilin Yang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Several methods have been proposed to reduce plate construct stiffness and promote secondary bone healing. In this study, we explored the stiffness and strength of the new carbon fiber-reinforced poly-ether-ether-ketone (CF 50) plate compared with the titanium alloy plate (Ti6Al4V).

Methods: Titanium and CF-PEEK locking plates were tested in a tibial non-osteoporotic diaphyseal comminuted fracture model to determine construct stiffness in axial compression, torsion, and bending. Subsequently, constructs were loaded until construct failure to determine construct strength.

Results: Relative to the titanium locking plate, the stiffness of the CF-PEEK locking plate was 6.8% and 30.8% lower in 200 N and 700 N axial compression, respectively (P < 0.05), 64.9% lower in torsion (P < 0.05), and 48.9% lower in bending (P < 0.05). The strength of the CF-PEEK locking plate was only 2.6% lower under axial compression, 7.8% lower in torsion, and 4.8% lower in bending than the titanium locking plate (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: The CF-PEEK locking plate significantly reduced axial, torsion, and bending stiffness compared with the titanium locking plate. Nonetheless, axial, torsional, and bending strength showed only a modest reduction. Considering its other advantages, which include radiolucency and artifact-free imaging, the CF-PEEK locking plate therefore deserves further clinical investigation.

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