Polymers in medicine and surgery

Polymers for medical applications:

1. Polymers for artificial joints
2. Bioabsorbable polymers for surgical applications

3. Adhesives for medical applications

    

4. Polymers for artificial joints

There are several regenerative treatments, but joint replacement with an artificial joint is the most common and effective treatment

The artificial joint has a sliding interface using a combination of a hard material against a soft material.

Hard material: Metallic femoral head

Soft material: polytetra-fluoroethylene (PTFE) shell

Cement material: Cold curing acrylic cement (polymethylmethacrylate)

The soft material made of polytetra-fluoroethylene (PTFE), then it was replaced by high density polyethylene (HDPE) and later by ultra hogh molecular polythere (UHMWPE)

UHMWPE was chosen because of its low friction coefficient, high resistance to wear, high impact resistance, high ductility and stability in the body.

1. Bioabsorbable polymers for surgical applications

Polymeric materials and composites have been used in medical applications; tissue replacement; support of tissues and delivery of drugs

Based on their behaviour in living tissue, polymeric biomaterials can be divided into

1. Biostable

2. Bioastable (biodegradable)

    

3. Adhesives for medical applications

Bioabsorbable sutures are used in the fixation of bone fractures, closure of soft tissue wound etc.