Using the shape recovery of nitinol in the Harrington rod treatment of scoliosis

Nitinol, a metal alloy which is able to remember (and return to with slight heating) the shape it had before it was deformed, is demonstrated to be useful in the Harrington rod treatment of scoliosis. A bent nitinol rod can return to its original straight length, applying both axial and lateral forc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomedical materials research 1976-11, Vol.10 (6), p.879-892
Main Authors: Schmerling, M. A., Wilkov, M. A., Sanders, A. E., Woosley, J. E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Alloys
Elasticity
Female
Humans
Nickel
Scoliosis - surgery
Stainless Steel
Temperature
Titanium
Traction - instrumentation
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Summary:Nitinol, a metal alloy which is able to remember (and return to with slight heating) the shape it had before it was deformed, is demonstrated to be useful in the Harrington rod treatment of scoliosis. A bent nitinol rod can return to its original straight length, applying both axial and lateral forces to the spine during the operation or postoperatively by means of external heating. A research program using simulated spinal forces in a test fixture and implantation in a cadaver was undertaken to show the feasibility of modifying the existing procedure.
ISSN:0021-9304
1097-4636
DOI:10.1002/jbm.820100607