Numerical Simulation of the Posterior Malleolus Fracture with the Finite Element Method

Abstract

The high demand for biodegradable implants in bone fracture fixations has dramatically increased the use of polymers for biomedical applications as well. However, the replacement of stainless steel and titanium screws by biodegradable materials represents one of the most critical aspects of biomechanics. In this study, the mechanical behavior of polycaprolactone (PCL) in tension and compression is examined. Driven by the advanced technology of computational mechanics, the fixation of the posterior malleolus fracture has been designed and analyzed. The core idea depicts the static analysis of screws made of PCL fixed in the ankle joint. The focus of the study is on this bio-absorbable, polymer-based material performance under constant compression. Parametric analysis is employed for the optimization of the PCL scaffold. Future studies will focus on the experimental verification of the numerical analysis results.