Reconstruction of Bone Defects

Dear Colleagues,

Bone defects still represent a major challenge for orthopedic and trauma surgeons. They are serious complications that are most commonly caused by trauma, tumor, infection, and failed arthroplasty or congenital musculoskeletal disorders. Bone defects entail a sustained increase in hospitalization, risk of complications, and associated increase in expenses. Skeletal reconstruction of bone defects is challenging and can be lengthy with often unpredictable outcomes.

Surgical management aims to reconstruct the bone defect, avoiding amputation and providing acceptable functional outcomes. The most common and widely accepted procedures are, e.g., the vascularized bone-free transfer and Ilizarov bone transport techniques.

The healing of bone defects is a well-orchestrated physiological process involving multiple cell types and signaling molecules interacting at the fracture site to replace and repair bone tissue without scar formation. In the case of a bone nonunion, the implantation of, e.g., biomaterials as defect-filler-like scaffolds for repairing these defects and bone regeneration, respectively, is essential.

This Special Issue aims to detail the latest progress and research in treating bone defects, touching on biomechanics, implants, biomaterials, and clinical outcomes. 

We welcome submissions of original research and comprehensive review perspectives, including, but not limited, to the following fields:

• Bone and fracture biomechanics;
• Bone healing;
• Critical size bone defects;
• Fracture non-union;
• Inflammation;
• Joint arthroplasty and fracture osteosynthesis;
• Implant designs;
• Materials proprieties;
• Patient selection;
• Primary and revision settings.

Dr. Jörg Eschweiler
Prof. Dr. Philipp Kobbe
Guest Editors

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