Self-reinforced polymeric plates and screws for rigid internal fixation of fractures

Author(s)

Augusto Teruo Morita

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Química
• Defense date: 2006-03-15

Examining board members

Marco Aurelio De Paoli; Marcelo Jose Carbonari; Marisa Masumi Beppu; Cláudia Longo; Ines Joekes

• Advisor: Marco Aurelio De Paoli

Abstract

In this work self-reinforced plates and screws to be used for rigid internal fixation of fractures were produced using the poly(L/DL-lactic acid) copolymer. This copolymer can be hydrolyzed when implanted in the human body and its degradation products are expelled by the metabolic cycle. A self-reinforcement module was built. It can be attached to a Universal Mechanical Testing Machine, which is capable to uni-axially orient the polymeric sample though a heated die. Initial tests of processing and self-reinforcement were conducted with polystyrene. Self-reinforcement tests were conducted with the poly(L/DL-lactic acid) copolymer. The results show that the die-drawing process induced an increase in the flexural mechanical properties of ~60% in the elastic modulus and of ~90% in the maximum tension, both measured under flexion conditions. White lines (crazing) appears when the molded sample was bent at ambient temperature, whereas the self-reinforced sample could be bent in the same conditions without fracture or sample fragilization. X-ray diffraction results indicated that the self-reinforced sample exhibits a semi-crystalline structure; notwithstanding the differential scanning calorimetry results do not conclusively identify the sample morphology. g-rays sterilization caused a decrease in the molar mass, but the mechanical properties were not affected. In-vitro degradation test were conducted at 37 °C in a buffered aqueous solution. Sterilized samples show a larger decrease in the molar mass since the beginning of the test, but the mechanical properties exhibits a smaller decrease during the test. The self-reinforced samples can be molded to the form of plates and screws. The final sample could be bent at ambient temperature without fragilization (AU)