Page 29 - MSAM-2-4

Materials Science in

Additive Manufacturing

REVIEW ARTICLE
Metal additive manufacturing of orthopedic

bone plates: An overview

Weiting Xu, Aydin Nassehi, and Fengyuan Liu*
School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom

Abstract

Orthopedic bone plates, traditionally made from materials such as stainless steel
or titanium alloy, have been pivotal in treating fractures. However, the disparity in
modulus between these metals and natural bone leads to challenges, especially
stress shielding, which can hinder optimal healing and cause issues such as bone
resorption. In addition, the increase in complex fractures due to osteoporosis and
demographic changes also points to the limitations of standard bone plates. This
evolving landscape underscores the growing need for patient-specific solutions. This
review delves into the advantages and challenges concerning the material choice,
design, and production processes for the additive manufacturing (AM) of bone
plates. AM offers the potential to customize bone plates using detailed computerized
tomography scans or topology optimization, paving the way for unparalleled
customization and potentially more effective bone regeneration. However, the
intricacies of AM, from choosing the right materials to final production, add layers
of complexity. An innovative methodology in the field of laser-metal Additive
Manufacturing, known as Material-Structure-Performance Integrated AM (MSPI-AM),
*Corresponding author: is at the forefront of tackling existing challenges, with the goal of enhancing the
Fengyuan Liu overall process in this domain. This strategy seamlessly blends material properties,
(fengyuan.liu@bristol.ac.uk)
structural components, and functional performance. Enriched by the analytical
Citation: Xu W, Nassehi A, Liu F, capabilities of artificial intelligence, this comprehensive method aims to enhance the
2023, Metal additive manufacturing
of orthopedic bone plates: An AM process. It envisions a future where orthopedic treatments are not just functional
overview. Mater Sci Add Manuf, but also are personalized masterpieces that reflect individual patient needs and
2(4): 2113. address a variety of fracture scenarios.
https://doi.org/10.36922/msam.2113
Received: October 25, 2023
Keywords: Orthopedic bone plate; Additive manufacturing; Biomaterial; Patient-specific
Accepted: November 22, 2023 implant; Stress shielding
Published Online: December 8,
2023
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article 1. Introduction
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution Bone fractures represent a significant concern in orthopedics, stemming from
License, permitting distribution, various causes such as injuries, osteoporosis, and overuse . Remarkably, the natural
[1]
and reproduction in any medium, regenerative capacity of bone tissues allows for a high success rate in fracture healing,
provided the original work is
[2]
properly cited. with approximately 90 – 95% of fractures achieving successful recovery . Nevertheless,
the healing process is complex as it involves a series of interconnected cellular events
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with over a prolonged time [3-5] .
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Two primary mechanisms underpin fracture healing are the primary and secondary
[6]
affiliations. healing processes . Primary healing is a direct, although rare, and self-repair process
Volume 2 Issue 4 (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/msam.2113