title: Pre-clinical in vivo evaluation of orthopaedic bioabsorbable devices.
abstract: The presence of bioabsorbable materials in orthopaedics has grown significantly over the past two decades with applications in fracture fixation, bone replacement, cartilage repair, meniscal repair, fixation of ligaments, and drug delivery. Numerous biocompatible, biodegradable polymers are now available for both experimental and clinical use. Not surprisingly, there have been a wealth of studies investigating the biomechanical properties, biocompatibility, degradation characteristics, osteoconductivity, potential toxicity, and histologic effects of various materials. Promising results have been reported in the areas of fracture fixation, ligament repair, and drug delivery. In this article we review the pre-clinical in vivo testing of bioabsorbable devices with particular emphasis on implants used for these applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. any@musc.edu
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Woolf
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006801:Humans; D009985:Orthopedics
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials