Composite Enhancement Polyether-Ether-Ketone for Long Segmental Spinal Column Deformity Orthopedic Treatment

Abstract

Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) anterior intervertebral fusion combined with posterior long segment orthopedic surgery is a common method for the therapy of orthopedic deformity of the spine. PEEK material plays an important role in the effect of surgery. Graphene on copper substrate was transferred to the surface of carbon-fiber reinforced polyether-ether-ketone (CFR-PEEK) material by ferric chloride (FeCl3) chemical erosion and physical adsorption, hence the compound enhancement polyether-ether-ketone (Ge-PEEK) was achieved. In terms of characterization, Raman spectrometer was used to analyze the characteristics of the product generation, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to analyze the morphology of the product, and the hydrophilicity of the material was analyzed by the droplet contact Angle. From the perspective of intervertebral fusion, Ge-PEEK material was used in the intervertebral fusion device to analyze the effect of the fusion device in the correction of spinal deformity, such as displacement, convex Angle, and collapse. In the characterization test, Raman spectrum analysis showed that Ge-PEEK material had the characteristic peaks of graphene, and SEM analysis showed that CFR-PEEK material was covered on a large scale by graphene. In the droplet contact angle test, the contact angle of the graphene-modified CFR-PEEK material was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The material had good hydrophilicity. In the analysis of lumbar interfusion, the anterior intervertebral fusion rate based on Ge-PEEK material was 95.8% (P < 0.05), and the vertebral deposition rate based on Ge-PEEK fusion device was 7.2% (P < 0.05). At the same time, the distance between the leading edge of the cone after operation and the last follow-up was compared, and it was found that the displacement distance of different segments was smaller (P < 0.05). This study proved that the proposed Ge-PEEK material was feasible for anterior intervertebral fusion in the correction of long-segment spinal deformity.