A fracture fixation system that is intended to make a...

A fracture fixation system that is intended to make a significant contribution to the treatment of the limbs of wounded soldiers is under development by the Smith and Nephew Orthopaedics Division of London, UK.

The company recently signed a technology development contract with the US Department of Defense, following acceptance of the company's proposals to create a new healing material, known as fracture putty.

The putty is designed to enhance the healing of traumatic wounds suffered on the battlefield. These wounds often lead to secondary fractures and infections, multiple surgeries, long rehabilitation times and, in some cases, amputation.

In particular, injuries sustained from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are difficult to treat because of the usually significant loss of bone and soft tissue.

The putty will have the texture of modelling clay so that it can be moulded into any shape. It will har den into a nanoporous silicon scaffold, strong enough to support the patient's weight while new bone tissue is being regenerated. It will be infiltrated with a gel containing cells that produce bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs).

The resorbable putty is intended to provide substantial support to the injured limb early in the body's natural healing process. The aim is to speed up the healing time so that the soldier can more quickly participate in physical therapy and thus reduce the risk of further complications.

Once resorbed, the putty is replaced by natural healthy bone.

Smith and Nephew is the only medical device company chosen to work on this futuristic material, according to the Vice President of Product Development in the company's Orthopaedics Division Trauma, David Brumfield.

The company submitted the proposals to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the central research and development agency for the US Defense Department. The agency hosted a proposer's workshop in July 2008.

DARPA's Program Manager, Mitchell Zakin, says: "Fracture putty represents the ultimate convergence of orthopaedic material science and mechanics, and has the potential to revolutionize the way patients are treated". Beyond this initial project, Smith and Nephew may expand the application of the technology to the treatment of other kinds of bone fractures in both military and civilian trauma care.

Smith and Nephew's annual sales in 2008 were US$3.8 billion.