Drugs and Implants in Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Technology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 786
Special Issue Editor
2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Hospital König-Ludwig-Haus, University of Würzburg, Wurzburg, Germany
Interests: orthopedic and trauma implants; muscle; osteoarthritis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Orthopedic and trauma surgery increasingly leverages drug–device combinations to prevent and treat infection, modulate inflammation and pain, and accelerate bone regeneration and cartilage repair. From antibiotic‑loaded bone cement and antimicrobial implant coatings to bioresorbable carriers and 3D‑printed scaffolds with controlled release, the therapeutic interface between pharmacology and implant technology is rapidly evolving. This Special Issue of Pharmaceuticals invites preclinical and clinical studies that clarify local pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, release kinetics, and tissue distribution in peri‑implant environments; strategies against biofilm and chronic osteomyelitis (including local versus systemic delivery); effects of surface modifications on osseointegration and immune response; and the safety, effectiveness, and cost‑effectiveness of drug–implant therapies across hip, knee, shoulder, foot and ankle, spine, and trauma applications. We particularly welcome randomized trials, registry and real‑world evidence, translational and mechanistic work, high‑quality reviews and meta‑analyses, and technical notes on design, modeling, and quality control. By bringing together orthopedics, materials science, microbiology, and pharmaceutical sciences, this issue aims to define best practices and guide the next generation of safe and effective drug–implant strategies in musculoskeletal care.
Dr. Ioannis Stratos
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- drug–device combinations
- orthopedic and trauma implants
- local drug delivery
- periprosthetic joint infection (PJI)
- biofilm prevention
- antimicrobial coatings
- antibiotic‑loaded bone cement
- release kinetics (PK/PD)
- bioresorbable implants
- fracture healing and bone regeneration
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