In Vitro Experimental Study of Biofiligree^® Osteosynthesis in Calcaneus Fracture Fixation

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomedical engineering
• Materials science

Background:

• Conventional osteosynthesis plates offer effective bone fracture fixation.
• Opportunities exist to enhance functional outcomes and patient experience in fracture healing.
• The Biofiligree concept merges medicine, engineering, and design for therapeutic and aesthetic implants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and biomechanically evaluate a novel calcaneal fixation plate utilizing the Biofiligree geometry concept.
• To assess the performance of a personalized, aesthetically enhanced osteosynthesis plate.
• To compare the biomechanical stability of the Biofiligree plate against a standard commercial plate.

Main Methods:

• A Biofiligree calcaneal plate was designed and manufactured from stainless steel 306L.
• Experimental testing was performed on synthetic composite calcaneus bone models.
• Biomechanical evaluation involved comparing strain distribution, fracture stabilization, stress, displacement, and fixation stiffness.

Main Results:

• The Biofiligree plate demonstrated comparable biomechanical performance to the standard commercial plate.
• Similar strain distributions and fracture stabilization were observed between the two fixation systems.
• The Biofiligree plate exhibited stresses around 430 MPa and fracture displacement below 0.7 mm, with adequate fixation stiffness for bone healing.

Conclusions:

• The Biofiligree calcaneal fixation plate provides adequate support for bone healing with comparable biomechanical performance to conventional plates.
• This innovative approach integrates patient personalization and aesthetic considerations into orthopedic implants.
• The Biofiligree concept represents a novel advancement in surgical fixation, enhancing both therapeutic and symbolic aspects of recovery.