Quinn Conall, Van Gaalen Kerstin, McHugh Peter E, Kopp Alexander, Vaughan Ted J
Biomedical Engineering and Biomechanics Research Centre, School of Engineering, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
Biomedical Engineering and Biomechanics Research Centre, School of Engineering, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Meotec GmbH, 52068, Aachen, Germany.
Comput Biol Med. 2025 Jan;184:109444. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.109444. Epub 2024 Nov 27.
This study presents a multi-domain computational framework to investigate the long-term performance of permanent and bioabsorbable magnesium fixation devices in orthopaedic fracture applications. The framework integrates a coupled model for bone fracture healing and remodeling, with an enhanced surface-based corrosion model to predict the performance of bioabsorbable magnesium devices. It was found that plated fracture fixation enabled fracture healing outcomes compare to non-plated models by facilitating direct fracture healing. During the fracture healing phase, it was found that the stiff titanium plate provided a better healing response compared to the less stiff bioabsorbable magnesium plates. However, in the longer-term remodeling phase, the titanium plate showed evidence of stress-shielding and inhibited bone remodeling. On the other hand, the magnesium plates showed that there was continued remodeling, which meant that the bone tissue gradually returned to the pre-fracture stress state. While the corrosion rate and pit severity heavily influenced the mechanical support provided by the corroding magnesium fixator, the results showed that fixation was only required to provide mechanical stability to the fracture region for approximately the first 30 days for successful fracture union to occur. This coupled computational framework provides a platform to investigate the role of a wide range of magnesium fixation devices and their design and optimisation in orthopaedic applications.
本研究提出了一个多领域计算框架，以研究永久性和生物可吸收镁固定装置在骨科骨折应用中的长期性能。该框架整合了一个用于骨折愈合和重塑的耦合模型，以及一个增强的基于表面的腐蚀模型，以预测生物可吸收镁装置的性能。研究发现，与未使用钢板的模型相比，钢板内固定通过促进直接骨折愈合实现了更好的骨折愈合效果。在骨折愈合阶段，发现刚性较强的钛板比刚性较弱的生物可吸收镁板能提供更好的愈合反应。然而，在长期的重塑阶段，钛板出现了应力遮挡的迹象并抑制了骨重塑。另一方面，镁板显示出持续的重塑，这意味着骨组织逐渐恢复到骨折前的应力状态。虽然腐蚀速率和凹坑严重程度对腐蚀的镁固定器提供的机械支撑有很大影响，但结果表明，为了成功实现骨折愈合，仅需在大约前30天为骨折区域提供机械稳定性。这个耦合计算框架提供了一个平台，用于研究各种镁固定装置在骨科应用中的作用及其设计和优化。
