Orthopedics

Musculoskeletal conditions are prevalent and their impact is pervasive. They are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability, and they affect hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Musculoskeletal conditions are the most common cause of chronic disability. These conditions comprise over 150 diseases and syndromes, which are usually progressive and associated with pain.

Musculoskeletal conditions can broadly be categorized as joint diseases, physical disability, spinal disorders, and conditions resulting from trauma. Those conditions with the greatest impact on society include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, low back pain, and limb trauma.

Changing demographics, particularly a rapidly aging population––together with improved longevity––are having a direct impact on the rising number of musculoskeletal conditions being diagnosed and treated across the globe. Over the past decades, biomaterials have continued to improve the reliability and success rates of orthopedic surgery, thus expanded the joint replacement candidate population to include younger, more active individuals. The concurrent emergence of innovative, technological advances in orthopedic biomaterials, and an expanding patient population is the major trends driving the global demand for orthopedic biomaterials.