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Conventional osteosynthesis plates provide reliable mechanical fixation for bone fracture healing; however, patient recovery is often experienced as a purely clinical process, functionally effective but emotionally detached. Recent intersections between medicine, engineering, art and design suggest opportunities to expand fracture treatment beyond biological repair, incorporating patient identity, participation, and emotional well-being. Within this context, this study introduces Biofiligree^®, a novel fixation concept that reimagines osteosynthesis plates as both biomedical implants and aesthetic artefacts.

Inspired by traditional Portuguese filigree, Biofiligree^® integrates ornamental geometry into load-bearing fixation devices, enabling patient-driven personalisation through selectable patterns, motifs, and engravings. Following fracture consolidation and implant removal, the plate may be transformed into wearable jewellery, preserving it as a symbolic marker of recovery rather than disposable medical hardware.

This work presents proof-of-concept biomechanical evaluations of Biofiligree^® plates applied to two clinical scenarios: ulna and calcaneal fracture fixation. Finite element simulations were conducted to compare intact bone models, commercial fixation plates, and Biofiligree^® designs, assessing stress distribution and micromotion at the fracture site. In addition, experimental mechanical testing was performed on synthetic composite calcaneus models using stainless steel 316L Biofiligree^® plates and commercial equivalents.

Results demonstrate that Biofiligree^® plates provide stable fixation with controlled micromotion compatible with secondary bone healing. These findings indicate that Biofiligree^® offers a clinically viable and conceptually innovative approach to osteosynthesis, illustrating how fixation devices may evolve from purely functional hardware into artefacts that unite healing, identity, and design.