Using as Screw of PEEK in Femur Neck Fractures as an Alternative Biomaterial

Abstract

Titanium screws used in femoral neck fracture fixation may lead to issues such as stress shielding and localized stress concentration. This study investigates the feasibility of using polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) screws arranged in a triangular configuration as a potential alternative. Mechanical performance, biocompatibility, and load-bearing capacity are significant for these applications. Finite element analysis (FEA) revealed that PEEK screws exhibited a lower insertional stress of 92.26 MPa but experienced higher fracture line stress (79.96 MPa), gap (0.50 mm), and penetration (0.0074 mm), indicating increased micromotion. The calculated safety factor was 1.0297, which is adequate for average patients but may not ensure safety under high-load conditions. Compared to titanium, PEEK offered improved stress distribution and fatigue resistance but also demonstrated mechanical limitations. Overall, PEEK screws show promise as a bioinert and radiolucent alternative in orthopaedic applications, yet further optimization is needed for broader clinical adoption in high-demand scenarios.