Question

Hip implants have experienced significant design and material changes since their introduction. These changes have led to more successful biomaterials in orthopaedic implants.

Discuss the improvements in ceramic orthopaedic implant materials.

Discuss the mechanical performances of ceramics and why the current materials are more successful than predecessors

Answer 1

There have been continuous research in surgical implant materials to improve the function and durability of such implants in the body. Currently, Titanium is considered as the best implant material for prosthetic surgeries. It is even the most prefered material for making inner body devices like stents, for instrumentation and internal body fixation such as in bone fractures.

Titanium is highly bio-compatible and with a little surface modifications, its surface also becomes highly biocompatible. The surface characteristics that affect biocompatibility are surface texture, steric hindrance, binding sites, and hydrophobicity. These characteristics are used to create an optimum cellular response.

The mechanical properties of titanium also make it one of the most favored materials for making prosthetics. Titanium is high in strength, is stiff and tough and has a low density and is corrosion resistant. It also has a low density and is light weight. All these properties make it an ideal choice for use in making surgical implants.