FATIGUE RESISTANT ORTHOPAEDIC IMPLANT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

摘要

An orthopaedic implant (10) having improved fatigue resistant capabilities is provided by the use of cold work expansion of the fixation holes (14) of an implant to plastically deform the implant around the periphery of the hole (14) in a uniform manner. A zone of residual compressive stresses is created which thereby improves the fatigue resistance of the implant in the region of the holes.