The study of lifetime of polymer and composite bone joint screws under cyclical loads and in vitro conditions

The "strain-life time" method has been adapted for life-time prediction of polymer and composite bone joint screws. Mechanical and fatigue properties of screws made of biostable (polysulfone), biosorbable (poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and short carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite materials have been examined in this study. The lifetime predictions under in vitro conditions were calculated for polymer and composite implants. The forecasting of joint screws stability under conditions close to natural body environment is shown to be feasible based on equations describing lifetime of the examined joint screws. (C) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.