Despite extensive use of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) in biomedical applications, information about bacterial adhesion to this biomaterial is limited. This study investigated Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion to injection moulded and machined PEEK OPTIMA(®) using a custom-built adhesion chamber with medical grade titanium and Thermanox for comparison. Additionally, ba...

BACKGROUND Titanium and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implants have been used in spinal surgery with low rejection rates. Compared to titanium, PEEK has many advantages, including a density more similar to that of bone, radiolucency, and a lack of artifacts in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of PEEK cages as an alternati...

Introduction : Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is an aromatic, rigid semi-crystalline thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties and bone-like stiffness, and good biocompatibility [1-2]. Moreover for biomedical applications, particularly in the area of load-bearing orthopaedic applications [3] PEEK is able to be repeatedly sterilized, and shaped by machining or injection moulding. Devices u...

This study aims to validate, using finite element analysis (FEA), the design concept by comparing the fatigue behavior of hip implant stems coated with composite (carbon/PEEK) and polymeric (PEEK) coating materials corresponding to different human activities: standing up, normal walking and climbing stairs under dynamic loadings to find out which of all these models have a better performance in...

BACKGROUND Surgical treatments for early onset scoliosis (EOS), including growing rod constructs, involve many complications. Some are due to biomechanical factors. A construct that is more flexible than current instrumentation systems may reduce complications. The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine spine range of motion (ROM) after implantation of simulated growing rod construc...

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) has been successfully used in orthopedic implants. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the properties, technical data, and safety of CFR-PEEK biomaterial and to evaluate its potential for new innovation in the design of articulating medical devices. A comprehensive search in PubMed and EMBASE was conducted to identify artic...

Titanium coated PEEK cages incorporate the advantages of both PEEK, which offers a native-like elastic modulus and a radiolucent behaviour, and Titanium which provides improved biocompatibility and promotes osseointegration. In this study, we evaluated the response of Titanium plasma sprayed PEEK cages to provide safe support of the lumbar spine and promote bony fusion.

New bearing materials for total joint replacement have been explored as the need to improve longevity and enhance performance is driven by the changing demands of the patient demographic. Carbon-reinforced PEEK has demonstrated good wear characteristics in experimental wear simulation in both simple geometry pin-on-plate studies and in total hip joint replacement. Carbon reinforced PEEK CFR-PEE...

PEEK cages are an effective alternative when structural bone graft is needed for different fusions around the foot and ankle. Bone fusion rates are high when PEEK cages are filled with autologous bone. No difference in consolidation time in patients was noticed between the cages fixed with staples and those fixed with cannulated screws. Nerve damage, residual pain at the donor site, and cosmeti...

BACKGROUND All-polymer bearings involving polyetheretherketone (PEEK) have been proposed for orthopaedic applications because they may reduce stress shielding, reduce weight of the implants, reduce wear and risk of osteolysis, and prevent release of metal ions by replacing the metal articulating components. Little is known about the biotribology of all-polymer PEEK bearings, including the effec...