BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BONE-GRAFT SUBSTITUTES

Trauma, disease, developmental deformities, and tumor resection freque ntly cause bone defects that seriously challenge the skills of orthope dic and maxillofacial surgeons. Currently, repairing osseous deficienc ies involves various medical surgical techniques, including autogenous grafts, allografts, internal and external fixation devices, electrica l stimulation. and alloplastic implants. The existing technology, thou gh effective in many cases, still is beset with numerous difficulties and disadvantages. A critical need for improved treatment methods exis ts today. Biotechnology now provides access to new bone repair concept s via administration of protein growth and morphogenic factors. Implan table device and drug delivery system technologies also have advanced. The converging biopharmaceutical, device, and delivery technologies r epresent an opportunity to improve the quality of health care for indi viduals with orthopedic and maxillofacial deficiencies. This report re views current concepts in fracture healing and bone repair and examine s existing treatment modalities. It also addresses novel protein drugs that stimulate osseous regeneration and delivery systems for these dr ugs.