Customized Load-Bearing and Bioactive Functionally-Graded Implant for Treatment of Osteonecrosis

Stanford inventors have developed a functionally-graded implant device for the reconstitution of the necrotic area removed after surgical treatment of osteonecrosis of the hip.

Osteonecrosis of the hip (ONH) is an increasingly prevalent and debilitating disease in which a lack of blood supply to the femoral head causes bone death, osteoarthritis, and eventual structural collapse, often progressing to require total hip replacement. While removal of the core necrotic area surgically can sometimes prevent collapse, it is only successful 20-70% of the time. Bone implants taken from the fibula to fill in the removed area can help but the harvesting process is painful. Metal implants also help prevent collapse but can result in pain for the patient and can complicate hip replacement later, should it become necessary.

Scientists at Stanford have invented a new implant that can replace the core of bone removed during surgical treatment of early stage ONH. The device is a mechanically robust functionally-graded scaffold (FGS) that acts as a filler for the tunnel of removed tissue in the femoral head. It is composed of three separate sections designed with the necessary mechanical support but also with the appropriate porosity to allow for vascularization and new bone ingrowth.

Stage of Development:

Animal Studies (rabbits)