Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1.6 Conclusions and future trends
From the socioeconomical point of view, it is expected that by 2020, the
percentage of persons over 50 years will double in europe and the USA.
As the average age of the population rises, the impact of musculoskeletal
conditions on society will also increase. Indeed, it is predicted that by 2025,
the number of annual fractures and costs will increase by 50%. The way
in which musculoskeletal disease affects an individual depends on several
variables like the severity of the condition, the characteristics of the individual
and the length of time with the condition. other factors more related to the
patient such as age, gender, race/ethnicity and lifestyle also affect strongly
the outcome of the disease. recent studies have shown the importance of
performing more profound studies to identify growing unrecognized needs
from different population sectors (Burge
et al
., 2007)
The disability associated with certain musculoskeletal conditions, such as
arthritis, the most prevalent musculoskeletal condition, osteoporosis and its
related fractures, severe trauma and crippling diseases and deformities affects
society in a significant way; most of the time, the individuals' quality of life is
considerably affected. In the worst cases, the individual is not able to have a
fully independent lifestyle (Yilmaz
et al
., 2008). As a consequence, employers
and society have to deal, not only with healthcare expenses associated with
the treatment and recovery from the musculoskeletal condition, but also with
the costs associated with lost productivity and increased sick leave.
Thus, it is clear that more work is required to evaluate the costs of
medical care in terms of effectiveness or benefit. Besides, it is necessary
to identify cost effective treatments that have a durable response in terms
of reduce disability or pain. In particular in the case of osteoarthritis, joint
replacement surgery is a good example of such a treatment. Investment in
effective interventions and programmes for pain relief and reductions in
disability levels will generate both economic and social outcomes that more
than repay the original investment.
The prevalence of bone and joint diseases, as well as severe trauma, has
led to the development of biomaterials for both permanent and temporary
devices aimed at
overcoming these clinical conditions. Within this context,
orthopaedic biomaterials have been developed and have evolved according
to the specific demands required by each particular application. For instance,
in the case of bone fractures, the need for rigid and mechanically resistant
materials for the manufacture
of bone fixation devices has
led to the use
of existing metals and the development of new metallic alloys which allow
the design of new devices such as plates, pins, rods and external fixation
systems.
In the case of arthritis and other clinical conditions where joints are
severely injured and total joint replacement is required, there is the need for
