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Use of PEEK implants in clinical practice increasing

05 Sep '17

3 min read

Courtesy: Invibo

Research projects presented at the latest International PEEK Meeting in Washington, DC highlight the increasing adoption of PEEK implants in clinical practice as well as the material´s established position due to possible patient benefits. Especially, the potential of carbon fibre-reinforced PEEK (CFR-PEEK) plates for fracture fixation has become compelling.

Additive manufacturing was revealed as making progress in the production of PEEK polymer-based implants.

Topics ranging from dental, knee, spinal and trauma implants up to advances in additive manufacturing or medical PEEK performance in general demonstrated the broad scope of current research in PEEK technology and clinical applications. More than 40 abstracts were shared through podium and poster presentations along with invited talks focusing on medical implantable PEEK to attendees from the FDA, industry, academia and research hospitals – supporting the growing relevance and necessity for the International PEEK Meeting.

During the meeting potential of carbon fibre-reinforced PEEK (CFR-PEEK) composite plates for fracture fixation became clear and compelling, in particular for their high fatigue strength and a favourable modulus of elasticity. “The potential benefits of a less stiff construct on healing are hugely attractive and the results from some early clinical comparative work with metals, which will be released in October, will only increase the interest in these materials,” said John Devine, medical business director at Invibio Biomaterial Solutions, a leading pioneer and innovator of medical-grade PEEK such as PEEK-OPTIMA.

One study assessed the mechanical stability of locking screws used in CFR-PEEK proximal humerus plates compared to those used in stainless steel plates. The results indicate that CFR-PEEK proximal humerus locking plates provide comparable or superior locking screw fixation strength compared to traditional stainless-steel locking plates. Plus, CFR-PEEK plates tolerated at least an equivalent, and in some sections of the plate, a significantly greater load before failure, when compared to traditional stainless-steel locking proximal humerus plates.

"A wealth of research and clinical experience is confirming that PEEK polymer-based implants have an established position due to potential patient benefits and, what is more, they still offer immense development possibilities," commented Steve Kurtz, Implant Research Centre, Drexel University and conference organiser. "While additive manufacturing in medical is in its infancy, we think it could revolutionise the ease, speed and accuracy with which implants are manufactured.”

Additive manufacturing can deliver patient customised implants (PCI) and enables direct linkage to digital patient models that may change the face of pre-operative planning and surgery. 3D printing specialist Apium Additive Technologies, for example, is offering the first commercially available 3D printer that is capable of processing PEEK. The model P 155 uses Apium´s innovative patent-pending Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printing technology.

Researchers at Drexel University have used the Apium machine to print intervertebral lumbar cages with experimental PEEK-filaments.

Unlike metal implants, PEEK polymer implants offer all the advantages of radiolucency, enhancing the accuracy of implant procedures and enabling the timely diagnosis of post-operative complications. Early clinical experience with a radiolucent CFR-PEEK pedicle screw system has demonstrated that the use of CFR-PEEK pedicle screws and rods reduces artifacts in computed tomography (CT) and especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This facilitates better screw positioning and postoperative evaluation, and any potential loosening can be assessed in detail by MRI – additional CT investigation may no longer be necessary. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India