Better fitting bone implants to lead to less need for revision surgery
Standardised bone repairs can lead to poorly fitting implants, often leading to revision surgery. PLA-HA (poly lactic acid-nano hydroxyapatite) bio-material has great potential to be used in bone repairs due to its strength and bioactive behaviour.
We can now process PLA-HA composite using cutting edge additive manufacturing techniques and are able to control the morphology and cell responses.
By creating bespoke implants, surgeons will be able to better fit implants to patients with bone defects, reducing the likelihood of requiring revision surgery.
The research continues, working towards a clinical trial for this exciting new technique.
Expert: Ruth Goodridge, Ian Ashcroft