Innovations in bone healing - Technical Insights

The use of traditional bone healing solution like autograft is well known. However, with major technology breakthrough, several innovative bone healing products have been developed for the benefit of patients as well as surgeons. This Technical Insights Research Service (RS) highlights the innovations in bone repair and replacement technologies, and classifies the bone healing solutions according to its mode of action and bio material technologies. This global industry study analyses the market drivers and challenges, diffusion of bone healing technological innovations in different geographical areas, industry demands, emerging opportunities in bone healing, technology road mapping, recent IP activity in this space and a brief snapshot of important industry participants.
Key Findings

Technology 

Several innovative bone grafts have been developed, which have the advantages of the gold standard autograft sans its disadvantages. Factor-based and cell-based bone grafts stimulate better bone repair and regeneration. Innovations in biomaterial technology have lead to development of synthetic grafts substitutes. These technologies mimics the natural bone and provides better improved healing. 

Drivers

As aging baby boomer leads to increase in bone problems such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, the procedural volume is also increasing. New ceramic and polymers technology are key drivers contributing to industry growth. Patients avoiding double surgery, causing a shift from autograft to other bone graft substitutes is also driving the market toward development of bone graft substitutes. 

Challenges

The market growth is restricted due to the high cost of the novel bone grafts, which is also causing difficulties in reimbursements, leading to poor adoption in the economically weak nations. There is also need for extensive clinical trial data to justify their clinical benefits. Another market challenge hindering developments in bone healing is legal and ethical issues related to the stem cell research. 

Funding 

Government bodies have also shown great support with increase in funding initiatives for the new emerging technologies. Several government foundations are doing extensive research in emerging fields such as the stem cell research. Other than funding, market is also benefitted by several partnerships, mergers, and acquisition with the aim to gain complementary technologies and also for commercialization. 

Future Direction 

By incorporating technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) printing and nanotechnology, the bone fit and cell structure can be made identical to the natural bone, facilitating the healing process. Drug eluting bone grafts is used to combat problems such as orthopedic surgical infections, osteomyelitis. The personalized bone graft which is preparing the bone from body's own cells, is the future of bone healing.