3D estructural analysis of bone plates, using the finite element method

The goals of this paper are to design two bone plates (dynamic compression plate and radius plate) and to evaluate stress distribution in an idealized geometrical model for a plate bone structures, due to representative tension, bending and torsion loads. A three dimensional model is generated to simulate the system: plate, bone and screws for the two bone plates designed. Loads cases were applied in these models, then boundary conditions and loads values were defined. The numerical analyses by finites element method were performed with a commercial finite element program (MSC/Nastran) and the stress distributions were obtained. The models showed that the plates behave within the elastic range for the load cases considered. It has been found that the critical regions of the model are: internal region of plate, inner screws hole region and plate bone interface. Torsion loads caused the highest stresses in the plate.