Analysis of the resistance of laser-made acrylic bone plates when subjected to different forces acting on the fracture focus

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to analyze the resistance of acrylic bone plates, made with CO 2 laser cutter, when subjected to the forces acting on the fracture focus. Forty ovine femurs (Ovis aries) were used and 40 acrylic plates were prepared and evaluated in groups: In the OP Group, 20 fractured bones reduced with 20 acrylic plates were evaluated; in the PS Group, 20 acrylic plates were evaluated; and in the OS Group 20 intact and fresh bones were evaluated. All were submitted to mechanical tests of compression, bending, twisting and traction in an EMIC® 10000 universal testing machine. The tests were interrupted when the body of proof was fractured. The PS group supported a significantly higher compression load than the other OP and OS groups (13,255±290 N, 4,932±827 N and 8,681±303 N, respectively). Regarding the flexural test, the OS group was significantly more resistant, with a mean of 2,698±305 N, compared to the groups OP and PS that obtained 1,315±92 N and 1,537±37 N respectively. It is concluded that the laser-machined acrylic plates have inferior mechanical resistance to the femur of the ovine, however, due to the presented resistance, it shows potential to be implanted in bones with lower load demand.