Development of novel implants for fracture treatment using TiNbSn alloy with a low Young's modulus

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18051
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Kamimura Masayuki 東北大学, 大学病院, 助教 (80758962)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 骨折治癒 / プレート / 合金

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Aiming to develop an optimal implant for the surgical treatment of fractures, we evaluated fracture healing in an animal experimental model using implants made of titanium-niobium-tin (TiNbSn) alloy , a low elasticity alloy developed by Tohoku University Institute for Materials Research. Fixation of a rabbit tibia fracture model with conventional plates and locking plates made of TiNbSn alloy showed an increase in volume of intramedullary callus at the fracture site, early induction of remodeling in the callus, and improvement in mechanical properties compared to implants made of titanium alloy used in conventional clinical practice.

Free Research Field

整形外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

骨折に対する手術治療の目的は、受傷者や社会に対する損失を最小限に抑えるために早期に適切な骨癒合を得ることであるが、一部の症例は癒合不全に陥り治療に難渋する。本研究ではTiNbSn合金製の骨折治療インプラントを開発するにあたり、TiNbSn合金のヒト皮質骨に近い低弾性という特性が骨折治癒の促進や骨癒合部の力学的促進の改善につながることが確認された。実際の骨折治療において成績改善に貢献するインプラントの開発が期待できる。