Load-bearing behavior of a simulated craniofacial structure fabricated from a hydroxyapatite cement and bioresorbable fiber-mesh

Calcium phosphate cements (CPC) have proven successful in the repair of sma ll, non-stress bearing skeletal defects. These cements do not have sufficie nt tensile strength or fracture toughness to allow their use in stress-bear ing applications. It was hypothesized that a bioresorbable fiber mesh would improve the load-bearing behavior of shell structures fabricated of CPC. T his study used a biaxial flexure fixture to compare the work-to-fracture va lues of discs made of: (1) CPC; (2) CPC reinforced with a bioresorbable two -dimensionally oriented poly(glactin) fiber-mesh; and (3) poly(methyl metha crylate) (PMMA) that were immersed in a serum-like solution for 0-28 days. CPC-mesh and PMMA discs were indistinguishable at 0, 1 and 7 days, based on work-to-fracture data. CPC and CPC-mesh discs were indistinguishable at da y 28, because of fiber hydrolysis. The knitted fiber-mesh was effective in improving load-bearing behavior of a calcium phosphate cement for potential structural repair of bone defects. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.