Effects of the bone-plate material and the presence of a gap between the fractured bone and plate on the predicted stresses at the fractured bone

In the present study, 3D finite element models for fractured bones with function-graded (FG) bone-plates and traditional bone-plates made of stainless steel (SS) or titanium (Ti) alloy are generated using the ABAOUS code. The predicted Von Mises stresses at the fracture site and underlying bone-plate are examined at different healing stages. The effects on the predicted Von Mises stresses at the fracture site of the presence of a gap between the plate and fractured bone are also studied. Based on the analytical results, it is found that the stress shielding at the fracture site at the fully healed stages decreases when using FG bone-plates compared to Ti alloy or SS bone-plates. In the initial healing stages, the Von Mises stresses at the fracture site increase (stress shielding decreases) by 17% and 11% when using FG bone-plates as compared to SS bone-plates for contacted and non-contacted bone-plate system, respectively. The significant effects of using an FG bone-plate with a gap on the resultant Von Mises stresses on the bone underneath the plate and on the bone stress shielding should be taken into consideration during fractured bone fixation. (C) 2010 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.