Development and characterization of porous magnesium bioresorbable implants

The use of temporary implants, which is widely diffused in orthopedic surgery requires surgical procedures to remove the implants after bone healing. A bioresorbable implant, which does not need to be surgically removed, would reduce both patient morbidity and risks of future diseases. Thanks to their biocompatibility, magnesium and its alloys have been proposed for self-degrading implants; moreover, Mg-based implants with a porous structure can stimulate the bone growth. This paper describes the preliminary results obtained by employing Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) to produce a magnesium foam with a porosity able to stimulate the bone growth.