Optimisation of Calcium Phosphate Cements for Bone Augmentation through Vertebroplasty

摘要

Due to their brittle nature and insufficient mechanical stability, calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) have not been used for the treatment of traumatic vertebral fractures. Mechanical stability of human bone is provided by a complex interaction of Type I collagen fibres and hydroxyapatite crystals. In the present study, short fibre reinforcement of an apatitic calcium phosphate has been investigated to improve its fracture behaviour. The fibres used were type I collagen fibres sourced from bovine Achilles tendon. The compressive strength and fracture behaviour were examined. Fibre addition of up to §wt% had a significant effect on composite properties with the fracture toughness being increased significantly, although this tended to be accompanied by a slight drop in compressive strength. The fibre reinforcement mechanisms appeared to be crack bridging. The setting time and injectabil-ity of the CPC with fibre reinforcement was also investigated and was found to decrease with fibre volume fraction.