Biomechanical Characterization of Failure the 316L Stainless Steel for Femoral Compression Plates

The aim of this paper is to examine a premature breakage of two compression plates for fixing broken bones with different patients for the period of their recovery. Each compression plate's breakage can induce grave consequences such as a new surgery, unexpected undesired complications and a prolonged healing time. The investigation of the compression plate breakage causes required an examination of the chemical composition and steel hardness, metallographic examination as well as that of the compression plate breakage surface by means of macroscopic and microscopic observations using microscope. On the origin of the results it can be established that the breakage was caused by high static load.