Orthopaedic bone substitute materials in fractures/trauma

Bone fractures can be treated in a variety of ways. Most commonly, fractures are immobilised with an external cast. The patient wears this cast for four to eight weeks for a distal radius fracture, and 12 to 18 weeks for a tibia fracture. Certain fractures are treated surgically using internal fixation devices such as plates, rods and screws, external fixation frames and/or bone grafts.

These standard treatment methods do not actually speed up the healing process, which is the reason for the increasing use of next generation bone graft materials. These are particularly indicated in instances of significant volume loss or in delayed or non-union fractures, and offer the potential for faster healing.

Scil is developing an in situ forming scaffold targeted at fracture repair. The product consists of a protein-free matrix, which is injected into the fracture region and hardens within a short time period at body temperature. The material thus forms a pressure-resistant, bioresorbable scaffold providing stability and reducing pain in the region of the fracture. The porous material also encourages the immigration of osteoblasts (osteoconductive properties) allowing for more rapid bone formation and reducing immobilisation and therefore rehabilitation time.