Abstract
Fractures of the mandible are a common form of traumatic injury. These fractures may be repaired using miniplates secured to cortical bone with screws. In the present research, the authors measure the pull-out strengths of cortical screws using a standard test paradigm and develop a finite element model to analyze forces acting on these screws. Pull-out strengths are measured in a tri-laminate synthetic material that mimics the cortical layers and cancellous bone of the mandible. A finite-element (FE) model is developed to analyze the mechanics of deformation of the model bone during the pull-out process. Issues that are important for the proper modeling of both normal and fractured mandibles are also considered. Copyright © 2004 by ASME.