ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews critically the work which has been done in the search for the use of poly in bone surgery. In bone surgery, some problems such as prosthetic joint materials and prostheses' anchorage require biostable compounds. The everyday reality of the bone surgeon is the repair of skeletons damaged either by disease or trauma. Although the degradation rates of lactic acid stereocopolymers can be reasonably controlled through enantiomeric purity, their mechanical properties appear to be insufficient for bone surgery. Although the mechanical improvement by fiber reinforcement of the PLA matrix is obvious, the composite material is still not strong enough, at this stage, to be considered suitable for the manufacture of long bone plates. Implantation in animals being the source of problem because of their lack of cooperation, clinical applications of composite bone plates have been carried out in the case of reconstructive facial surgery.
