Orthopaedic compression screws promote fracture repair by drawing-together and stabilising adjacent bone fragments. Shape memory polymers (SMP) are smart materials that switch from one macroscopic shape to another following the application of external triggering stimuli (e.g. by shrinking in length when heated above Tg). SMP compression screws that shorten in length following implantation could potentially pull bone fragments together and facilitate fracture healing. The biocompatible, bioresorbable polymer polylactic acid (PLA) shows shape memory properties but the Tg of unmodified PLA is too high for routine clinical use. A polymer’s Tg can be reduced by adding plasticisers, low molecular weight compounds that facilitate the movement of molecular chains within solid polymers. To identify plasticisers that can reduce the Tg of PLA to 37C (i.e. physiological temperatures), the Tg of plasticiser-PLA films was assessed using an identiPol machine. Shape memory properties were determined by (i) stretching the films to 200% original length at 85C, (ii) rapidly cooling to 5C without releasing the tension; and (iii) attempting to trigger shape memory reversion by brief immersion in water at 10C – 85C or more prolonged immersion in saline at 37C. Results showed that two reportedly biocompatible plasticisers, Triacetin and Tributyl O-acetylcitrate reduced PLA’s Tg in a dose dependant manner and that shape memory reversion could occur at 37C in saline. PLDLA (Purasorb 7038) plasticised with Tributyl O-acetylcitrate (2.5% v/w) showed optimal shape memory properties when pre-warmed to 45C, stretched between 2 and 3.5 fold at 47C (10 MPa) and then rapidly cooled under tension. The material was not initially birefringent, became birefringent when stretched and rapidly lost birefringence and returned to its original length when heated to 85C in water. Length was recovered completely but more gradually in saline at 37C. PLDLATAC is therefore a candidate material for SMP implants