In recent years, the synthetic polymer polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has increasingly been used in a number of orthopedic implementations, due to its excellent mechanical properties, bioinertness, and chemical resistance. For in vivo applications, the surface of PEEK, which does not naturally support cell adhesion, has to be modified to improve tissue integration. In the present work we demonstra...

BACKGROUND Titanium (TTN) cages have a higher modulus of elasticity when compared with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages. This suggests that TTN-cages could show more frequent cage subsidence after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and therefore might lead to a higher loss of correction. We compared the long term results of stand-alone PEEK- and TTN-cages in a comparable patient co...

PEEK-OPTIMA™ (Invibio Ltd, UK) has been considered as an alternative joint arthroplasty bearing material due to its favourable mechanical properties and the biocompatibility of its wear debris. In this study, the potential to use injection moulded PEEK-OPTIMA™ as an alternative to cobalt chrome in the femoral component of a total knee replacement was investigated in terms of its wear performanc...

Extensive maxillofacial defects resulting from trauma or oncologic resection present reconstructive challenges. Various autografts and alloplastic materials in conjunction with standard soft-tissue techniques have been used in the reconstruction of these types of defects. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a semicrystalline polyaromatic linear polymer exhibiting an excellent combination of strength...

Back and radicular pain is the leading cause of activity and productivity loss amongst adults of any age in the United States [Ref. 1]. In many cases, surgical intervention is required, including at least 5,000 interbody spinal fusion cages implanted each month in the U.S. alone [Ref. 2]. The total U.S. market for spinal fusion implants was valued at nearly $4 billion in 2008 [Ref. 3]. Interbod...

Medical implant devices have evolved in the past decade and now many surgical specialties have turned to polyetheretherketone (PEEK) devices for its ideal properties. In Neurosurgery, PEEK has its role in many operations such as cervical cages after anterior cervical discectomy and as a prosthetic implant for cranioplasty where autologous cranioplasty is not possible. We discuss our case of a p...

Implant repair is a common means to restore the normal function of hard tissues (bone or teeth). At present, commonly and potentially used implant materials include titanium alloy (Ti), zirconia (Zr), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), 30% carbon fiber reinforced PEEK (CFR-PEEK). This study compares their physicochemical biological properties, including surface morphology, contact angle, nano hardnes...

This study reports the clinical effects of nano-hydroxyapatite/polyamide66 cages (n-HA/PA66 cages) and compares the clinical outcomes between n-HA/PA66 and polyetheretherketone cages (PEEK cages) for application in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). A retrospective and case-control study involving 124 patients using n-HA/PA66 cages and 142 patients using PEEK cages was conducted. Al...

BACKGROUND Uncorrected refractive errors are the commonest cause of visual loss in children despite spectacle correction being highly cost-effective. Many affected children do not benefit from correction as a high proportion do not wear their spectacles. Reasons for non-wear include parental attitudes, overprescribing and children being teased/bullied. Most school programmes do not provide heal...

Wear particle-induced biological responses are the major factors resulting in the loosening and then failure of total joint arthroplasties. It is feasible to improve the lubrication and reduce the wear of artificial joint system. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is considered as a potential bearing material due to its mechanical characteristics of resistance to fatigue strain. The PEEK wear particle...