Biomechanical testing of commercially available soft-tissue augmentation materials

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Soft-tissue augmentation devices are crucial in reconstructive surgery.
• Understanding the biomechanical properties of these devices is essential for clinical success.
• Commercially available devices vary in material composition and physical characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively evaluate the physical properties and dimensions of various commercially available soft-tissue augmentation devices.
• To compare the biomechanical performance of different graft materials under simulated physiological conditions.

Main Methods:

• Load-elongation, cyclic loading, and destructive testing were performed on hydrated graft material strips.
• Key parameters measured included displacement, elastic deformation, tensile modulus, stiffness, and ultimate load-to-failure strength.
• Suture retention strength was also assessed using a vertical stitch test.

Main Results:

• SportMesh exhibited the greatest displacement, while GraftJacket MaxForce Extreme and Allopatch HD 2 showed more displacement than RC Allograft.
• Acellular human collagen matrix grafts (GraftJacket, Allopatch) demonstrated superior ultimate strength and stiffness compared to SportMesh and OrthAdapt.
• OrthAdapt had a higher tensile modulus than several other materials, indicating greater resistance to deformation relative to its size.

Conclusions:

• Acellular human collagen matrix grafts generally exhibit superior strength and stiffness after cyclic loading compared to other tested materials.
• Material selection should consider specific biomechanical requirements, as properties like elongation and tensile modulus vary significantly.
• These findings provide valuable data for surgeons selecting soft-tissue augmentation devices.