BONE FRACTURE FIXATION

Oess N.R, Weisse B., and Nelson B.J. 2009. Magnetoelastic strain sensor for optimized assessment of bone fracture fixation. IEEE Sensors Journal 9(8) 961-968. 

Developments in the u.se of biodegradable polymers in biomedical and surgical applications are reviewed. Applications discussed include tissue engineering, bone fracture fixation devices, resorbable sutures, vascular grafts, temporary barriers for the prevention of postoperative adhesion, artificial skin and systems for controlled drug release. 92 refs. 

Bioerodable materials in current use are limited to applications that do not require long-term strength retention. It is acknowledged by the medical profession that problems exist with the current practices of bone fracture fixation. Two serious problems are osteoporosis due to stress shielding [1-3] and necessary second operations for device removal after bone healing. To alleviate these problems, polymers of a-hydroxy acids such as lactic and glycolic acid are being explored. They have shown potential utility as biocompatible, fully resorbable implant devices. The biocompatibility of poly(a-hydroxy acids) has been known for some time from in vivo acute and subacute tissue reaction [4], as well as in vitro cytotoxicity response [5]. Sutures of these materials have been in use now for many years. 

Poly(hydroxy acid)s are an important class of degradable polymers for biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and physiologically tolerable degradation products 886302. Poly(L-lactic acid) or poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) has been used as a biomaterial for tissue engineering, bone fracture fixation and controlled drug delivery... 

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