Application of biodegradable implants in pediatric orthopedics: shifting from absorbable polymers to biodegradable metals

Over the past two decades, advances in pediatric orthopedics and closed reduction combined with percutaneous internal fixation techniques have led to significant growth in pediatric orthopedics surgery. Implants such as Kirschner-wires, cannulated screws and elastic stabilization intramedullary nail...

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Main Authors: Yunan Lu, Ting Zhang, Kai Chen, Federico Canavese, Chenyang Huang, Hongtao Yang, Jiahui Shi, Wubing He, Yufeng Zheng, Shunyou Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-08-01
Series:Bioactive Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X25001409
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author Yunan Lu
Ting Zhang
Kai Chen
Federico Canavese
Chenyang Huang
Hongtao Yang
Jiahui Shi
Wubing He
Yufeng Zheng
Shunyou Chen
author_facet Yunan Lu
Ting Zhang
Kai Chen
Federico Canavese
Chenyang Huang
Hongtao Yang
Jiahui Shi
Wubing He
Yufeng Zheng
Shunyou Chen
author_sort Yunan Lu
collection DOAJ
description Over the past two decades, advances in pediatric orthopedics and closed reduction combined with percutaneous internal fixation techniques have led to significant growth in pediatric orthopedics surgery. Implants such as Kirschner-wires, cannulated screws and elastic stabilization intramedullary nails are commonly used in these procedures. However, traditional implants made of metal or inert materials are not absorbable, leading to complications that affect treatment outcomes. To address this issue, absorbable materials with excellent mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, and controlled degradation rates have been developed and applied in clinical practice. These materials include absorbable polymers and biodegradable metals. This article provides a comprehensive summary of these resorbable materials from a clinician's perspective. In addition, an in-depth discussion of the feasibility of their clinical applications and related research in pediatric orthopedics is included. We found that the applications of absorbable implants in pediatric orthopedics are shifting from absorbable polymers to biodegradable metals and emphasize that the functional characteristics of resorbable materials must be coordinated and complementary to the treatment in pediatric orthopedics.
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institution OA Journals
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
record_format Article
series Bioactive Materials
spelling doaj-art-5852f19bdd5f457d83e2dc57a8840b1c2025-08-20T02:06:57ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Bioactive Materials2452-199X2025-08-015018921410.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.04.001Application of biodegradable implants in pediatric orthopedics: shifting from absorbable polymers to biodegradable metalsYunan Lu0Ting Zhang1Kai Chen2Federico Canavese3Chenyang Huang4Hongtao Yang5Jiahui Shi6Wubing He7Yufeng Zheng8Shunyou Chen9Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Fuzhou Second General Hospital, The Third Clinical Medicine College of Fujian Medical University, 47th Shangteng Road of Cangshan District, Fuzhou, 350007, Fujian, China; Department of Emergency Trauma Surgery, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Shengli Hospital affiliated to Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350001, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Spine Surgery, Department of Spine Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, Guangdong, China; Corresponding authors. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.Orthopedic and Traumatology Department, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, DISC-Dipartimento di scienze chirurgiche e diagnostiche integrate, University of Genova, Genova, ItalySchool of Engineering Medicine, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, ChinaSchool of Engineering Medicine, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, ChinaDepartment of Emergency Trauma Surgery, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Shengli Hospital affiliated to Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350001, China; Corresponding author. Department of Emergency Trauma Surgery, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Shengli Hospital affiliated to Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350001, China.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Corresponding author. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Fuzhou Second General Hospital, The Third Clinical Medicine College of Fujian Medical University, 47th Shangteng Road of Cangshan District, Fuzhou, 350007, Fujian, China; Fujian Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for First Aid and Rehabilitation in Orthopedic Trauma (2020Y2014), Fuzhou, 350007, China; Key Clinical Specialty of Fujian Province and Fuzhou City (20220104), Fuzhou, China; Corresponding author. Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Fuzhou Second General Hospital, The Third Clinical Medicine College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350007, Fujian, China.Over the past two decades, advances in pediatric orthopedics and closed reduction combined with percutaneous internal fixation techniques have led to significant growth in pediatric orthopedics surgery. Implants such as Kirschner-wires, cannulated screws and elastic stabilization intramedullary nails are commonly used in these procedures. However, traditional implants made of metal or inert materials are not absorbable, leading to complications that affect treatment outcomes. To address this issue, absorbable materials with excellent mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, and controlled degradation rates have been developed and applied in clinical practice. These materials include absorbable polymers and biodegradable metals. This article provides a comprehensive summary of these resorbable materials from a clinician's perspective. In addition, an in-depth discussion of the feasibility of their clinical applications and related research in pediatric orthopedics is included. We found that the applications of absorbable implants in pediatric orthopedics are shifting from absorbable polymers to biodegradable metals and emphasize that the functional characteristics of resorbable materials must be coordinated and complementary to the treatment in pediatric orthopedics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X25001409Pediatric orthopedicsPercutaneous internal fixationOrthopedic implantAbsorbable polymersBiodegradable metals
spellingShingle Yunan Lu
Ting Zhang
Kai Chen
Federico Canavese
Chenyang Huang
Hongtao Yang
Jiahui Shi
Wubing He
Yufeng Zheng
Shunyou Chen
Application of biodegradable implants in pediatric orthopedics: shifting from absorbable polymers to biodegradable metals
Bioactive Materials
Pediatric orthopedics
Percutaneous internal fixation
Orthopedic implant
Absorbable polymers
Biodegradable metals
title Application of biodegradable implants in pediatric orthopedics: shifting from absorbable polymers to biodegradable metals
title_full Application of biodegradable implants in pediatric orthopedics: shifting from absorbable polymers to biodegradable metals
title_fullStr Application of biodegradable implants in pediatric orthopedics: shifting from absorbable polymers to biodegradable metals
title_full_unstemmed Application of biodegradable implants in pediatric orthopedics: shifting from absorbable polymers to biodegradable metals
title_short Application of biodegradable implants in pediatric orthopedics: shifting from absorbable polymers to biodegradable metals
title_sort application of biodegradable implants in pediatric orthopedics shifting from absorbable polymers to biodegradable metals
topic Pediatric orthopedics
Percutaneous internal fixation
Orthopedic implant
Absorbable polymers
Biodegradable metals
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X25001409
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