Predicting bone plates runout using tensile strength and geometric properties to reduce regulatory testing

Mechanical tests on bone plates are mandatory for regulatory purposes and, typically, the ASTM F382 standard is used, which involves a four-point bending test setup to evaluate the bending stiffness, structural stiffness, bending strength, and cyclic bending fatigue performance of the bone plate. These test campaigns require a considerable financial outlay and long execution times; therefore, an accurate prediction of experimental outcomes can reduce test runtime with beneficial costs cut for manufacturers. Hence, an analytical framework is here proposed for the direct estimation of the maximum bending moment of a bone plate under fatigue loading, to guide the identification of the runout load for regulatory testing.