ABSTRACT
This chapter gives an overview of biomechanics and biomaterials. The first part of the chapter will detail basic mechanical principles, the mechanical properties of materials, and dynamics and control. Further reading on these sections can be found in many standard textbooks and review papers.1-5 The biomechanics of joints will then be presented. The second part of the chapter will discuss biomaterials. In the first section, the mechanical properties of natural tissues associated with orthopaedics will be discussed, followed by an overview of synthetic biomaterials used in the manufacture of orthopaedic devices. Examples of orthopaedic devices (synovial joint replacement implants, fracture fixation devices and spinal implants) will be given and the reasons why specific materials are used explained. Finally, a section on preclinical testing will be given, describing ways of modelling implants and the importance of subjecting them to mechanical testing before they are implanted into patients.
