The Clinical Use of Osteobiologic and Metallic Biomaterials in Orthopedic Surgery: The Present and the Future

As the area and range of surgical treatments in the orthopedic field have expanded, the development of biomaterials used for these treatments has also advanced. Biomaterials have osteobiologic properties, including osteogenicity, osteoconduction, and osteoinduction. Natural polymers, synthetic polymers, ceramics, and allograft-based substitutes can all be classified as biomaterials. Metallic implants are first-generation biomaterials that continue to be used and are constantly evolving. Metallic implants can be made from pure metals, such as cobalt, nickel, iron, or titanium, or from alloys, such as stainless steel, cobalt-based alloys, or titanium-based alloys. This review describes the fundamental characteristics of metals and biomaterials used in the orthopedic field and new developments in nanotechnology and 3D-printing technology. This overview discusses the biomaterials that clinicians commonly use. A complementary relationship between doctors and biomaterial scientists is likely to be necessary in the future.

Automated summary

As surgical treatments in orthopedics expand, the development of biomaterials used for these treatments has advanced. Biomaterials have osteobiologic properties and can be classified as natural polymers, synthetic polymers, ceramics, allograft-based substitutes, and metallic implants. This review discusses the fundamental characteristics of metals and biomaterials used in the field, as well as advancements in nanotechnology and 3D-printing technology. A complementary relationship between doctors and biomaterial scientists is likely to be necessary in the future.