Question

(2) Two patients, A & B, suffer from severely broken femora. Patient A is older and the femur is found to contain a cancerous tumor. Patient B is healthy and young. (a) For each of A & B what is the most likely treatment for their fracture? Explain your answer (b) Which material(s) listed in the following table would be used to treat patient A and how? (c) Which material (s) listed in the following table would be used to treat patient B and how? (d) Is there any other material that might be useful in treating patients A and/or B? Yield stress Compression MPa) Cost/kg Densit (kg/m3) 8000 4550 1300 8000 1800 Elastic modulus Material (GPa) 300 125 1.5 200 Co-Cr alloy Titanium alloy PLA/PGA co- 550 420 6000 50 75 550 80 600 180 olymer Stainless Steeel UHMWPIE

Answer 1

(a). For both A and B patients a surgery is required as a part of treatment. Pateint A has less risk since he doesnt have any tumor, so a surgery with insertion of a supportive rod inside the bone till the bone gets healed will be sufficient with complementary medications from physician. But in the case of Patient B , the tumor has to be treated either by removing or by medication, then have to proceed with the previously mentioned surgical treatments.

(b) For patient A since he is old , bones need better support, so Stainless steel could be used for insertion.

(c) For patient B Titanium alloy could be used and should be locked in inter-medullary region.

(d) For patient A Co-Cr alloy can also be used , but then it all depends on patient's condition like weight.