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Medical Devices in Orthopedic Applications1 Vet Path Services, Inc. Mason, Ohio, USA Correspondence: Address correspondence to: Philip H. Long, Vet Path Services, Inc., 6450 Castle Dr., Mason, OH 45040; e-mail: plong{at}vetpathservicesinc.com. Orthopedic medical devices have been extremely successful in restoring mobility, reducing pain, and improving the quality of life for millions of individuals each year. Their success is reflected in the worldwide biomaterials market, in which orthopedic devices dominated sales at approximately $14 billion in 2002. Of this, approximately $12 billion was spent on joint replacements. In spite of their overwhelming benefits and successes, orthopedic medical devices are not without risk of adverse effects. Most adverse joint replacement outcomes are thought to be mediated by degradation products generated by wear and electrochemical corrosion. Infection and flaws in device manufacturing are other noteworthy causes of orthopedic device failure. This article illustrates and discusses the uses, general properties, and limitations (including adverse outcomes) of orthopedic biomaterials, which are fundamental to understanding requirements for improving current orthopedic medical devices.
Key Words: Orthopedic • biomaterials • pathology • medical devices • biocompatibility Abbreviations: FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration • HA, hydroxyapatite • HCA, hydroxyl-carbonate apatite • PMMA, polymethylmethacrylate • TCP, tricalcium phosphate • TJA, total-joint arthroplasty • UHMWPE, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene
Toxicologic Pathology, Vol. 36, No. 1,
85-91 (2008) |
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