A Novel Spine Fixation System Made Entirely ofCarbon-Fiber-Reinforced PEEK Composite: An In VitroMechanical Evaluation

Semirigid spine fixation systems utilizing nonmetallic materials have emerged as a promising innovation toovercome the inherent disadvantages of metal instrumentation in spine surgery. +is study tests the mechanical properties of anovel spine fixation system made entirely of carbon-fiber-reinforced PEEK (CFR-PEEK) composite material (CarboClear System,CarboFix Orthopedics Ltd., Israel).Methods. An in vitro mechanical evaluation of the CFR-PEEK CarboClear system wasconducted in compliance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1717, F2193, and F543 standards.Results.+e mean bending yield load, bending ultimate load, and bending stiffness of the construct were 322 N, 363 N, and 45 N/mm,respectively. All tested samples completed 5×106dynamic cycles successfully, with no evidence of fatigue failure at increasing loadlevels, up to 83% of ultimate bending load. +e mean torsional stiffness was 1.0 Nm/deg and the mean screw axial pull-out strengthwas 2,037 N.Conclusion. +e CarboClear Pedicle Screw System has mechanical properties comparable to those of othercommonly used titanium-made systems, with superior fatigue properties. +e fatigue resistance, modulus of elasticity which isvery similar to that of bone, radiolucency, and CT/MRI artifact-free feature of this spine fixation system made entirely of CFR-PEEK may offer advantages over traditional spine fixation systems made of metal alloys