A significant challenge in the current orthopedics is the development of suitable osteobiologic materials that can replace the conventional allografts, autografts, and xenografts and thereby serve as implant materials as bone substitutes for bone repair or remodelling. The complex biology behind the nanostructure and microstructure of bones and their repair mechanisms, which involve various types of chemical and biomechanical signalling amongst different cells, has set strong requirements for biomaterials to be used in bone tissue engineering. This review presents an overview of various types of osteobiologic materials to facilitate the formation of the functional bone tissue and healing of the bone, covering metallic, ceramic, polymeric, and cell-based graft substitutes, as well as some biomolecular strategies including stem cells, extracellular matrices, growth factors, and gene therapies. Advantages and disadvantages of each type, particularly from the perspective of osteoinductive and osteoconductive capabilities, are discussed. Although the numerous challenges of bone regeneration in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are yet to be entirely addressed, further advancements in osteobiologic materials will pave the way towards engineering fully functional bone replacement grafts.

Advances in osteobiologic materials for bone substitutes.

Age assessment of living individuals represents a valuable tool in both forensic medicine and sports medicine. In soccer, age-related tournaments play an important role in guaranteeing equal chances to the competitors. However, age estimations in this field should not rely on imaging methods that include exposure to radiation. Therefore, the present study investigates the possibilities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the iliac crest apophysis for the purpose of evaluating skeletal maturation in under-20 (U-20) soccer players. To this end, gradient echo 3D sequences of the whole pelvis of 152 male tournament soccer players between 18 and 22 years of age were prospectively evaluated. A four stage classification system was applied for the assessment of the apophyseal ossification. Reliable stage determination was possible in all cases. Further sub-classification did not appear feasible due to the limitations of MRI. Analysis of the statistical parameters showed that age medians increased steadily from stage to stage. However, they did not allow for further differentiation of skeletal maturity in the cohort studied. Thus, MRI of the iliac crest appears to be generally suitable in age diagnostics of living individuals, but further investigations, especially in a cohort of individuals aged between 10 and 20 years, are needed in order to establish this method as novel criterion in sports or forensic medicine.

Mirjana Djorojevic

Papers

Age estimation through histological study of trabecular volume and cortical bone width of the iliac crest.