MODELLING OF BONE FIXATION PLATE FROM BIODEGRADABLE MAGNESIUM ALLOY / KAULŲ LŪŽIŲ FIKSAVIMO PLOKŠTELIŲ IŠ BIODEGRADUOJANČIO MAGNIO LYDINIO MODELIAVIMAS

Abstract

Biodegradable materials are used in two key sectors of orthopaedics – to fabricate bone fixators and scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration. In case of osteosynthesis, fixators made from biodegradable materials disappear from the body after a certain time. So, a necessity of a one more operation for their removal is excluded. In the present study, the acromioclavicular joint osteosynthesis plates made of magnesium alloy (WE43), titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-7Nb) and stainless steel (316L) are compared utilizing the finite element analysis. The research showed that stresses in the magnesium alloy plate were lower, compared to the titanium alloy plate or the stainless steel plate. However, the tensile strength of magnesium is over 2 times lower, as compared to stainless steel and 5 times lower, than titanium alloys. Magnesium alloy is not suitable for manufacturing plates with low thickness (2 and 2.5 mm), because the stresses generated in them exceed the yield strength of the material.