title: Synthetic bone scaffolds and fracture repair.
abstract: Synthetic scaffolding has been used in the treatment of bone defects and fractures for over 100 years. They remain a critical tool in the treatment of large-volume bone defects, and their role as potential substitues for human bone graft continues to expand. Various materials are used commercially to produce osteoconductive scaffolds including ceramics (both bioactive and bioinert) and select polymers, all of which offer distinct advantages and dissadvantages. While currently used principally as osteoconductive conduits for growth, the role of bone-graft substitues in fracture treatment is likely to change, as biomaterial research moves towards utilizing current and future scaffold materials as delivery systems for biologic fracture treatments.
authors: Division of Research, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021, USA. carsonj@hss.edu
authors: Joshua S
authors: JS
authors: Carson
authors: Mathias P G
authors: MP
authors: Bostrom
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002516:Ceramics; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes