Hard Tissue Replacement — II: Joints and Teeth

The articulation of joints poses some additional problems for the bioengineer as compared with long bone fracture repairs. These include wear and corrosion and their products, as well as complicated load transfer dynamics. In addition, the massive nature of (total) joint replacements, such as the knee and elbow, and their proximity to the skin also makes for a greater possibility of infection. More importantly, if the replacement fails for any reason, it is much more difficult to replace the joint a second time since a large portion of the natural tissue has already been destroyed.