Design of the porous orthopedic implants: research and application status / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Porosity has been proven to improve the stability of orthopedic implants, and the architecture of pores is considered as a significant factor to improve the osseointegration of implants. OBJECTIVE: To introduce the research advance in porous architecture. METHODS: WOS database was searched for the articles addressing the porous structure of the implants published from January 2000 to April 2016 using the keywords of scaffold, pore size, porosity, osteogenesis. The literatures were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The stability of traditional implants cannot meet the requirements in some specific circumstances, while the implants with porosity can improve the stability due to its osteogenesis ability. (2) Porous structure is a hotspot, and the osseointegration of porous implants in vivo is explored through series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. (3) It has been shown that higher porosity, proper pore size, microporous morphology and microstructure of the pore wall may contribute to the growth and differentiation of bone tissue under enough mechanical support. (4) However, most studies on the porous implants are still on the in vivo and animal experimental stage, and its promoting effects on the osteogenesis and bone in-growth are needed to be investigated in depth.