TY - JOUR
T1 - 3D printed patient-specific fixation plates for the treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphysis
T2 - Topology optimization vs. conventional design
AU - Moosabeiki, V.
AU - de Winter, N.
AU - Cruz Saldivar, M.
AU - Leeflang, M. A.
AU - Witbreuk, M. M.E.H.
AU - Lagerburg, V.
AU - Mirzaali, M. J.
AU - Zadpoor, A. A.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Orthopedic plates are commonly used after osteotomies for temporary fixation of bones. Patient-specific plates have recently emerged as a promising fixation device. However, it is unclear how various strategies used for the design of such plates perform in comparison with each other. Here, we compare the biomechanical performance of 3D printed patient-specific bone plates designed using conventional computer-aided design (CAD) techniques with those designed with the help of topology optimization (TO) algorithms, focusing on cases involving slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). We established a biomechanical testing protocol to experimentally assess the performance of the designed plates while measuring the full-field strain using digital image correlation. We also created an experimentally validated finite element model to analyze the performance of the plates under physiologically relevant loading conditions. The results indicated that the TO construct exhibited higher ultimate load and biomechanical performance as compared to the CAD construct, suggesting that TO is a viable approach for the design of such patient-specific bone plates. The TO plate also distributed stress more evenly over the screws, likely resulting in more durable constructs and improved anatomical conformity while reducing the risk of screw and plate failure during cyclic loading. Although differences existed between finite element analysis and experimental testing, this study demonstrated that finite element modelling can be used as a reliable method for evaluating and optimizing plates for SCFE patients. In addition to enhancing the mechanical performance of patient-specific fixation plates, the utilization of TO in plate design may also improve the surgical outcome and decrease the recovery time by reducing the plate and incision sizes.
AB - Orthopedic plates are commonly used after osteotomies for temporary fixation of bones. Patient-specific plates have recently emerged as a promising fixation device. However, it is unclear how various strategies used for the design of such plates perform in comparison with each other. Here, we compare the biomechanical performance of 3D printed patient-specific bone plates designed using conventional computer-aided design (CAD) techniques with those designed with the help of topology optimization (TO) algorithms, focusing on cases involving slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). We established a biomechanical testing protocol to experimentally assess the performance of the designed plates while measuring the full-field strain using digital image correlation. We also created an experimentally validated finite element model to analyze the performance of the plates under physiologically relevant loading conditions. The results indicated that the TO construct exhibited higher ultimate load and biomechanical performance as compared to the CAD construct, suggesting that TO is a viable approach for the design of such patient-specific bone plates. The TO plate also distributed stress more evenly over the screws, likely resulting in more durable constructs and improved anatomical conformity while reducing the risk of screw and plate failure during cyclic loading. Although differences existed between finite element analysis and experimental testing, this study demonstrated that finite element modelling can be used as a reliable method for evaluating and optimizing plates for SCFE patients. In addition to enhancing the mechanical performance of patient-specific fixation plates, the utilization of TO in plate design may also improve the surgical outcome and decrease the recovery time by reducing the plate and incision sizes.
KW - Biomechanical validation
KW - Finite element analysis
KW - Orthopedic surgery
KW - Patient-specific medical devices
KW - Topology optimization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85174438557&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.106173
DO - 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.106173
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85174438557
SN - 1751-6161
VL - 148
JO - Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials
JF - Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials
M1 - 106173
ER -