Orthopaedic Implants
Orthopaedic implants will remain the largest implantable device segment in market
value. Gains will also refl ect the growing prevalence of degenerative musculoskeletal
disorders and lifestyle changes that place people at risk for sports and exercise
injuries. At the same time, as products become more durable and long-lived, demand
will increasingly come from an enlarged patient base for new surgeries rather than
for replacements. Also challenging this segment over the long term will be advances
in pharmaceutical alternatives to treat arthritic conditions. However, the segment
will benefi t from a strong base of insurance approvals for orthopaedic implants, as
well as a stable and well-funded medical delivery system and product designs that
allow for less invasive surgeries.
One of the most prominent application areas for biomaterials is for orthopaedic
implant devices. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis affect the structure of
freely movable (synovial) joints, such as the hip, knee, shoulder, ankle and elbow.
The pain in such joints, particularly weight-bearing joints such as the hip and knee,
can be considerable, and the effects on ambulatory function quite devastating. It has
been possible to replace these joints with prostheses since the advent of anaesthesia,
antisepsis and antibiotics and the relief of pain and restoration of mobility is well
known to hundreds of thousands of patients [ 13 ].