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Analysis of orientation behavior in poly(lactic acid) billets during extrusion using a finite element method and chain network model IntroductionPoly(lactic acid) (PLA) has high biocompatibility because it is nonenzymatically hydrolyzed to nontoxic lactic acid within the body. Therefore, PLA bone fixation devices have been developed and clinically applied for the treatment of bone fractures (Bergsma et al., 1993;Partio et al., 1992;Yamamuro et al., 1994). However, the application of PLA bone fixation devices is limited to low-load regions, such as the oral-maxillofacial region, because the mechanical properties of PLA are poor. Molecular orientation via the process of drawing has attracted much attention in relation to increasing the mechanical properties of plastics without reinforcement. Bone fixation devices molded from drawn plastics have been studied (

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