Resorbable polymers in bone repair and regeneration

Conventional methods of bone repair and regeneration such as autografts, allografts, and xenografts suffer from various disadvantages that has led to the evolution of resorbable polymers in bone repair and regeneration. The resorbable polymers are resorbed by the body, thus avoiding the additional surgery for implant removal. In this chapter, the advantages of resorbable polymers over conventional materials such as metals and ceramics are described. Resorbable polymers used in combination with metals, ceramics, and other polymers significantly enhance the mechanical, chemical, physical, and structural properties of the implant, and therefore resorbable composites serve as better implants. The potential of resorbable polymers and composites in bone fixation and bone tissue engineering is described, indicating the applicability of these materials in bone repair and regeneration.