A curve-shaped flexible mesh cage for treatment of large segmental bone defects - A finite element analysis

Abstract

The repair of large segmental defects in long bones caused by fracture, tumour or infection is still a challenging problem in orthopaedic surgery. Titanium scaffolds are clinically used and show good results in bone healing. At the boneimplant-interface the edge of the scaffold can migrate into the bone due to high compression stress. In the present study a new type of flexible titanium mesh cage was investigated in order to determine the mechanical properties for application in segmental defects. Finite Element Method (FEM) was used to characterize the influence of the cutting design and the number of load-bearing segments on the mechanical properties of the mesh cages. Material properties were extracted from standardized test samples of titanium sheet made of the same material (Titan, Grade 2). The results for all analysed designs revealed a decrease of the mechanical properties with increasing size of the cuts. Structural modulus for cut parameters was within the range of human cortical bone with a maximum of 17.1 GPa. © 2012 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston.