Summary
Mechanical testing of five acrylics was performed to evaluate material property differences
that might affect their use as support rods in external skeletal fixation (ESF). Flexural
and torsional analysis demonstrated that differences existed in the stiffness of the
acrylics with polyethyl/polymethylmethacrylate products being the stiffest and a polyethylmethacrylate
product being least stiff. Increasing the amount of inert filler also increased the
stiffness. The inherent porosity of the individual acrylics did not have an effect
on their mechanical properties. These differences in stiffness might affect fracture
healing by affecting the amount of primary or secondary osteosynthesis that occurs.
Different polymeric forms of acrylic possess mechanical properties that influence
their stiffness. Based on flexural and torsional analysis, these properties may differ
significantly and affect external skeletal fixator stiffness.
Presented at the twenty-fourth annual meeting of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society,
Big Sky, MT March 2-8, 1997.
Keywords
Acrylics - external skeletal fixation - mechanical analysis
