Tyler—Texas State University student James Myrick earned top honors at the Texas Academy of Science (TAS) 129th Annual Meeting, receiving first place in the Anthropology Section poster competition.
The TAS conference, held Feb. 27–28 in Tyler, brought together researchers and students from across the state to showcase innovative scientific work. Myrick was recognized for his poster, “Evaluating Bone Strength in Press-Fit versus Cement-Fit Arthroplasty via Micro-CT,” co-authored with Theresa de Cree and Daniel Wescott, Ph.D. The project examines how different implant fixation methods, such as press-fit and cement-fit, affect bone integrity, an increasingly important topic as arthroplasty procedures continue to rise.
Using high-resolution micro-CT scans of femoral shafts from donated skeletal collections in Texas, the research team analyzed bone structure and density through cross-sectional and pore surface area measurements. Their findings indicate that cement-fit implants may be associated with greater bone mass, aligning with existing medical literature that suggests improved clinical outcomes with this method. While some results approached statistical significance, the study lays important groundwork for continued research with larger sample sizes.
Myrick’s achievement underscores TXST’s commitment to hands-on research opportunities and student success. By contributing to ongoing conversations in both forensic anthropology and medical science, his work exemplifies the impactful research being conducted by TXST students.