Novel Materials for Repairing Complex Fractures

I thought the CR4 crew would be interested in this story I heard on the drive into work this morning. A research team at the University of Pittsburgh is investigating a couple of related biodegradable materials (alloys of magnesium and iron and bioresorbable calcium phosphate putty) and methods for repairing complex fractures. Each fracture is treated with custom-3D printed implants.

These methods avoid using metal plates and screws. Part of the motivation is to avoid the additional surgery required to remove the plates and screws.

I head this story on the Academic Minute, a public-radio show that features brief reviews of academic research on a wide assortment of subjects. Some of you might find this as interesting and intriguing as I do; I highly recommend it (and I didn't get paid for this endorsement).