Designed composite degradation for spinal implants

The invention includes a composite material for use in the construction of orthopedic devices and methods for using these composites. The composite material is comprised of at least one filament or cord that can be non-biodegradable and a biodegradable matrix. In other forms the composite material contains at least two components formed of a biodegradable material, which components can be a matrix or a filament or a combination of matrices and filaments. The degradation rate of the two components need not be the same. The composite material is used in the construction of orthopedic devices such as bone plates, bone rods, spinal rods, and laminate sheets that change physical properties in vivo.