Fixation strength of swelling copolymeric anchors in artificial bone.

Fixation with suture anchors and metallic hardware for osteosynthesis is common in orthopedic surgeries. Most metallic commercial bone anchors achieve their fixation to bone through shear of the bone located between the threads. They have several deficiencies, including stress-shielding due to mechanical properties mismatch, generation of acidic by-products, poor osteointegration, low mechanical strength and catastrophic failure often associated with large bone defects that may be difficult to repair.

A porous swelling copolymeric material for improved implant fixation to bone.

Most metallic commercial bone anchors, such as screws and suture anchors achieve their fixation to bone through shear of the bone located between the threads. They have several deficiencies, potentially leading to failure, which are particularly evident in low-density bone. These include stress-shielding resulting from mechanical properties mismatch; lack of mechanically induced remodeling and osteointegration; and when the pullout force on the anchor, during functional activities, exceeds their pullout strength, catastrophic failure occurs leaving behind large bone defects that may be hard to repair.