Tissue Engineering: Orthopedic Applications

• Published in: Annual review of biomedical engineering Vol. 1; no. 1; pp. 19 - 46
• Main Authors: Laurencin, C. T, Ambrosio, A. M. A, Borden, M. D, Cooper, J. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto, CA 94303-0139 Annual Reviews 01-01-1999; 4139 El Camino Way, P.O. Box 10139; USA
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatible Materials; biomaterials; bone; Bone and Bones; Cartilage; Humans; ligament; Ligaments; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Musculoskeletal Diseases - surgery; Orthopedics - methods; Prostheses and Implants; scaffold; tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods
• ISSN: 1523-9829; 1545-4274
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev.bioeng.1.1.19

Because of an aging population and increased occurrence of sports-related
injuries, musculoskeletal disorders have become one of the major health
concerns in the United States. Current treatments, although fairly successful,
do not provide the optimum therapy. These treatments typically rely on donor
tissues obtained either from the patient or from another source. The former
raises the issue of supply, whereas the latter poses the risk of rejection and
disease transfer. This has prompted orthopedic surgeons and scientists to look
for viable alternatives. In recent years, tissue engineering has gained
increasing support as a method to treat orthopedic disorders. Because it uses
principles of engineering, biology, and chemistry, tissue engineering may
provide a more effective approach to the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders
than traditional methods. This chapter presents a review of current methods and
new tissue-engineering techniques for the treatment of disorders affecting
bone, ligament, and cartilage.