Biomechanical Evaluation of New Fracture Fixation Implants

Abstract

Introduction: Fracture fixation implants play a critical role in achieving stable bone healing. With the development of novel implant designs, there is a need for rigorous biomechanical evaluation to assess their stability, load-bearing capacity, and resistance to failure under physiological conditions. Understanding these characteristics helps guide clinical decision-making and ensures patient safety. Methods: This study was a prospective experimental biomechanical investigation conducted at the Department of Orthopaedics, Burdwan Medical College & Hospital, from March 2019 to March 2020. A total of 100 adult synthetic bone models simulating human long bones were utilized to assess various parameters, including age, gender, fracture site, complications, patient satisfaction, mean operative time, mean blood loss, and fluoroscopy time. Standardized experimental protocols were applied to evaluate the biomechanical performance of the implants under controlled conditions, ensuring reproducibility and allowing comparative analysis of mechanical stability and failure modes. Results: The demographic and baseline characteristics of the bone models, including age, gender distribution, and bone density, were comparable between the Implant A and Implant B groups. Biomechanical testing demonstrated that Implant B outperformed Implant A, showing significantly higher load to failure (1380 ± 160 N vs. 1250 ± 150 N; p = 0.032), greater stiffness (245 ± 40 N/mm vs. 220 ± 35 N/mm; p = 0.014), superior cyclic loading resistance (53,000 ± 5,500 cycles vs. 48,000 ± 6,000 cycles; p = 0.008), and reduced deformation under load (3.9 ± 0.7 mm vs. 4.5 ± 0.8 mm; p = 0.045). Analysis of failure modes indicated that while screw pull-out and plate bending were more common in Implant A, these differences were not statistically significant, whereas bone fractures at the implant site were significantly higher in Implant B (60% vs. 30%; p = 0.009). Conclusion: The new fracture fixation implants exhibit superior biomechanical properties compared to conventional implants, including higher load tolerance, increased stiffness, and improved resistance to cyclic loading. These findings suggest potential clinical advantages in fracture stabilization, although in vivo studies are recommended to confirm efficacy and safety.