Minimally Invasive Implants for the Stabilization of Bone Fractures

There are a number of different methods of fracture stabilization, where metal implants with screws and plates are mostly used for the more complex fractures. Although metal implants often give good results, these methods have several limitations. This applies, for example, to fractures in thin or fragmented bones, where screws cannot get enough foothold, irregular surfaces on which tiles can be difficult to fit, or fractures close to sensitive tissue.

Nor is it always so that fractures can be achieved with open surgery and thereby stabilized with plates and screws. In these cases, glue fixation has been considered a promising alternative. Unfortunately, no glue has yet proved to be the full and sufficient solution. Tested glues either lack mechanical strength, have low adhesion or are not sufficiently biocompatible.

To improve the treatment of complicated fractures and to develop the gluing technique for bone stabilization, a new treatment method is being developed in this project. The method is based on reinforcing glue with fibres and applying the fibre-reinforced adhesive as a patch on the fracture. The interdisciplinary project aims at tailoring the cross-linked polymers in combination with biodegradable fibres to achieve optimal properties for fracture stabilization. Both mechanical and biological testing methods are used in the development.

Contacts

Michael Malkoch