replacement surgery
Promoting the Long Term Marriage of Bone and Implant
Posted on by Dr. Francis Collins
Caption: Here we see the host bone (red and blue) growing in a cavity of the implant (brown and sliver). A new coating on the implant encourages this stable bond.
Credit: The Hammond Research Group, David H. Koch Institute of Integrative Cancer Research at MIT
Hip, knee, and shoulder joints get worn over time, or damaged by disease or injury. They often require replacement because they cause pain and inhibit movement. Orthopedic surgeons perform more than 1 million joint replacements each year. The worn bone is replaced with plastic or metal implants and cemented in place. The surgery can provide immense relief and restore mobility. But sometimes these implants don’t integrate well with the bone, and ultimately they break free. Replacement surgeries are costly, increase the risk of infection, and are a major challenge for the patient to endure. But recently an NIH-funded team of chemical engineers at MIT developed a special coating for implants that promotes a stronger connection to new bone.
