Recent Advances, Challenges and Future Opportunities for the Use of 3D Bioprinting in Large Bone Defect Treatment

Abstract

The healing of bone fractures is a well-known physiological process involving various cell types and signaling molecules interacting at the defect site to repair lost bone tissue. However, large bone defects meaning large tissue loss are a complicated problem in orthopedic surgery. In this chapter, we first present the bone treatment procedure and current commonly employed physical and surgical strategies for the treatment of this kind of fracture such as autografts, allografts, xenografts, and synthetic bone grafts as well as tissue engineering techniques. Further to this, we discuss the common limitations that motivate researchers to develop new strategies to overcome these problems. Finally, we will highlight future prospects and novel technologies such as 3D bioprinting which could overcome some of the mentioned challenges in the field of large bone defect reconstruction, with the benefit of fabricating personalized and vascularized medicine.