No abstract

Composite bone models are increasingly used in orthopaedic biomechanics research and surgical education—applications that traditionally relied on cadavers. Cadaver bones are suboptimal for myriad reasons, including issues of cost, availability, preservation, and inconsistency between specimens. Further, cadaver samples disproportionately represent the elderly, whose bone quality may not be representative of the greater orthopaedic population. The current fourth-generation composite bone models provide an accurate reproduction of the biomechanical properties of human bone when placed under bending, axial, and torsional loads. The combination of glass fiber and epoxy resin components into a single phase has enabled manufacturing by injection molding. The high anatomic fidelity of the cadaver-based molds and negligible shrinkage properties of the epoxy resin results in a process that allows for excellent definition of anatomic detail in the cortical wall and optimized consistency of features between models. Recent biomechanical studies of composites have validated their use as a suitable substitute for cadaver specimens.

No abstract

Composite bone models are increasingly used in orthopaedic biomechanics research and surgical education-applications that traditionally relied on cadavers. Cadaver bones are suboptimal for myriad reasons, including issues of cost, availability, preservation, and inconsistency between specimens. Further, cadaver samples disproportionately represent the elderly, whose bone quality may not be representative of the greater orthopaedic population. The current fourth-generation composite bone models provide an accurate reproduction of the biomechanical properties of human bone when placed under bending, axial, and torsional loads. The combination of glass fiber and epoxy resin components into a single phase has enabled manufacturing by injection molding. The high anatomic fidelity of the cadaver-based molds and negligible shrinkage properties of the epoxy resin results in a process that allows for excellent definition of anatomic detail in the cortical wall and optimized consistency of features between models. Recent biomechanical studies of composites have validated their use as a suitable substitute for cadaver specimens.Cadaver specimens have long been used in orthopaedic research and education specifically as well as medical education more broadly. 1 Biomechanical study of fracture fixation constructs and orthopaedic implants necessitates a substrate that reproduces the complex and anisotropic properties of organic human bone in order to produce clinically relevant insights. An accurate model of anatomy is also required in the educational setting for the instruction and practice of surgical technique. Accordingly, cadavers have remained a cornerstone of both research and education in orthopaedic surgery.Although cadaver specimens have distinct advantages in these settings, their use is complicated by a variety of factors. First, they are costly. Femurs, tibiae, and humeri-long bones commonly trialed in the biomechanical study of fracture fixation constructs-cost approximately $500 per specimen (Platinum Training, personal communication, 2013), compared with $170 for a fourth-generation composite equivalent. 2 A cadaver lower Dr. Elfar or an immediate family member has received research or institutional support from Synthes and Arthrex, and serves as a board member, owner, officer, or committee member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society. None of the following authors or any immediate family member has received anything of value from or has stock or stock options held in a commercial company or institution related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article: Mr. Menorca, Mr. Reed, and Dr. Stanbury. Logistical considerations also add cost to cadaver specimen use. Specimens must be preserved before, during, and after use. Freezing of fresh specimens is sometimes adequate but requires facility space and limits the duration and episodes of specimen use. 3 Use of traditional formalin-based embalming solutions may excessively stiffen soft tissues....