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Orthopaedic and Dental

Over the years, a significant number of projects directed at fundamental questions in biomechanics have been performed. The vast majority of these projects have been undertaken in concert with faculty and residents in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Division of Plastic Surgery, here at the University Medical Center. These studies have ranged from investigation of tendon, ligament and skin mechanical properties, as a function of varying topical and systemic treatments, to the effects of radial shortening on range of motion. Also included in these studies are the determination of the effects of commercially available cervical spine plates on spine/plate constructs, and the evaluation of the efficacy of a large number of implants designed for long bone stabilization of fractures (IM nails, compression plates, hip screw plates, spine stabilization constructs, etc.), and evaluation of joint bearing surfaces and joint designs. Various fixtures have been fabricated which attach to our numerous mechanical test systems. These fixtures are used not only for fundamental studies on metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites, but also for these biomechanical applications.