Silver nanoparticles and their orthopaedic applications

Implant-associated infection is a major source of morbidity in orthopaedic surgery. There has been extensive research into the development of materials that prevent biofilm formation, and hence, reduce the risk of infection. Silver nanoparticle technology is receiving much interest in the field of orthopaedics for its antimicrobial properties, and the results of studies to date are encouraging. Antimicrobial effects have been seen when silver nanoparticles are used in trauma implants, tumour prostheses, bone cement, and also when combined with hydroxyapatite coatings. Although there are promising results with in vitro and in vivo studies, the number of clinical studies remains small. Future studies will be required to explore further the possible side effects associated with silver nanoparticles, to ensure their use in an effective and biocompatible manner. Here we present a review of the current literature relating to the production of nanosilver for medical use, and its orthopaedic applications

Total hip arthroplasties in young patients under 50 years: limited evidence for current trends. A descriptive literature review

Item does not contain fulltextWe examined all reported outcomes of uncemented and cemented total hip arthroplasty in patients younger than 50 years of age listed in Medline (1966- 1 January 2009) and PubMed, and scrutinised reference lists of relevant papers. In addition, we evaluated relevant data in the Swedish hip arthroplasty register. 109 relevant articles were identified, 37 of which had a mean follow-up longer than 10 years. Although uncemented implants are widely used in patients under 50 years of age, there are only 2 reports that fulfil the criteria published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom (follow-up of >10 yrs and survival of =90%). Current trends relating to implant selection remain unsupported by survival data, and additional information about the long-term results of newer implants is essential. As matters stand, the most reliable results relate to cemented implants