Development of Bone Graft Using Wire Mesh Solids

Bone graft is often used to restore instability of lumber spines following a surgical removal due to tumour growth or other diseases. The application of a newly developed, low cost wire mesh is examined as a potential candidate for graft. Mechanical properties of the mesh block were tested and finite element analyses were conducted to calculate stress distribution in the vertebra, with a number of parameters examined, including cross-sectional size, position, and stiffness of a graft. It is found that the intra-vertebra stress is most influenced by the graft position, followed by the cross-sectional size of the graft, while the stiffness of the graft material has the least effect.