A medical device known as an orthopedic implant is intended to repair a bone, joint, or cartilage that has been damaged or deformed. For instance, a patient might require an implant as a result of a congenital impairment, limb loss, or leg fracture. The implant can be utilized to replace the articulating surfaces in various body joints and aid in bone fixation. The implant is used to strengthen or completely replace the joints in the damaged bones or places where a patient may be experiencing discomfort in their joints or bones that may need to be repaired. Depending on the patient's condition, the orthopedic surgeon uses a variety of surgical techniques to implant the implants into the body. Consider a joint that has deteriorated past a certain degree. In that situation, the surgeon uses a variety of orthopedic instruments created specifically for the operation to remove the injured joint and replace it with an orthopedic implant.

The majority of orthopedic implants are constructed from titanium alloys and stainless steel, and some of them could even have a plastic lining. The implant's essential strength is provided by the steel framework, while the plastic lining acts as synthetic cartilage. In most cases, the implant is put in position so that the bone can grow into it and strengthen it. To improve adhesion, the surgeon may occasionally additionally cement the orthopedic implant. Metal biomaterials have a number of drawbacks, including the need for postoperative problems, distortion of post-operative metallic screws, and inflammatory reactions. Bioresorbable implant research for traumatology and sports injuries has recently made significant strides. However, concerns about the drawbacks of bioresorbable biomaterials, such as inflammation, osteolysis, and a loss of mechanical strength, continue to surface. In therapeutic applications, polymers are employed as bioresorbable materials for sutures, bone implants, and drug delivery systems. The most recent generation of biodegradable metal materials with good osseointegration properties are alloys made of magnesium. Magnesium alloys are distinguished from other metallic materials used as orthopedic implants like titanium and titanium alloys, stainless steels, or cobalt-chromium alloys by their low elasticity, similar to that of human bone, which prevents the detrimental effect of stress-shielding in bone structure.

Additionally, magnesium biomaterials and their alloys are currently used primarily as temporary implants because they completely degrade in the biological environment (in vivo) and are replaced by newly formed bone. This eliminates the need for surgical revision to remove the implant, which is required for permanent implants after 10–15 years. As interim support for bone restoration procedures that require biodegradable metal implants, this property makes them incredibly alluring. However, they have a drawback in that they disintegrate quickly in a biological environment, necessitating a strict control of the corrosion rate that is consistent with the repair/healing processes of the afflicted bone tissue. Rapid corrosion has further negative effects on the implant, such as a reduction in its mechanical capabilities, as well as on the biological environment, where it can lead to hazardous side effects via side reactions and a buildup of corrosion byproducts. Thus, there are significant effects on both the patients' health and the operation's medical costs. Therefore, it is vital to increase the corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys in such applications. Temporary magnesium alloys provide the best mechanical qualities, appealing biodegradability, and biocompatibility. It was assumed that magnesium and its alloys should be biocompatible in vivo due to the fact that mass gain results from magnesium's reaction with the components of the human body. Mg to be biocompatible, demonstrating that it speeds up bone growth. Mg has the highest damping capability of any metal that may be utilized for load applications, making it an additional benefit. The easiest final proportions to attain and the lightest workable metal construction are magnesium. As a result, it is simple to generate complex shapes, which is crucial for the frequently complex shapes required for medical applications. Mg has better resistance and a good strength-to-weight ratio (130 KNm/Kg) compared to the biodegradable polymeric materials utilized in osteosynthesis. While the fracture toughness of magnesium is higher than that of ceramic biomaterials, the elastic modulus of magnesium orthopedic implants is similar to that of bone. The implant must, however, support the load without deforming.

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Mark Orwell

Journal of Bone Research