Assessing the biomechanical properties of nitinol staples in normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic bone models: A finite element analysis.

Objective: Bone staples are internal fixation devices that are frequently used in the foot, ankle, and hand to provide stabilization. Fixation stability is vital after fusion or fracture surgeries to ensure proper bone healing. Patients undergoing surgeries that require fixation to keep bones aligned and stable may present with diminishing bone mechanical properties, and this may compromise the ability of the fixation hardware to maintain a stable construct.