Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK)

Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is a special thermoplastic engineering plastic with biological, mechanical, and chemical properties that provides an alternative to titanium alloys in the development of implantable load-bearing medical devices, which require extra strength and biocompatibility ^1,2.

Characteristics of PEEK ¹:

• radiolucent with artifact-free imaging (CT and MRI) for accurate and reliable post-operative monitoring

• excellent fatigue resistance

• very high compression strength durability

• low coefficient of friction, making it a “slick” material easing insertion into host bone.

• modulus of elasticity is very similar to that of bone, so the joint can bear weight and move like bone

• stiffness closely matches that of cortical bone, and acts like a load-sharing device, compared to a load-bearing device, which is advantageous in dynamic areas of the body, such as the hands and feet to prevent stress shielding after fracture fixation

• is impervious to organic processes, i.e. does not corrode nor does it liberate metal ions

Clinical applications ¹:

• plate and screw fixation, arthrodesis procedures in the upper and lower extremity

• arthroplasty implants

• spinal fusion cages

• arthroscopic devices such as suture anchors and interference screws

• 3-D printing of patient-specific implants for osteotomies

History and etymology

PEEK was first produced in 1978 in the UK laboratories. It was initially used in spine and dental applications ¹.