Current state and perspectives on the use of zirconium ceramic implants in traumatology and orthopaedics

Background Ceramic materials are currently in wide demand in various fields of medicine. Zirconium ceramics demonstrate exceptional mechanical properties and biocompatibility and do not cause cytotoxic effects or allergic reactions in surrounding tissues.

The objective was to present an analysis of current literature data on the use of zirconium ceramics as a bone replacement material in traumatology and orthopaedics.

Materials and methods The search for publications was conducted using the databases of Scopus, PubMed and the electronic scientific library eLIBRARY in the Russian and English languages using the keywords: bioceramics, bone, bone defect, zirconate, zirconium ceramics, bone tissue engineering, implant, scaffold, augment, biointegration, bioactivity. Depth of search for scientific papers was from 2000 to 2023.

Results and discussion Zirconium dioxide is the main ceramic bioinert material. The study presents the characteristics of ZrO₂ as a bone replacement material and its comparison with titanium implants. Data are presented on various strategies for improving zirconium bioceramics: improving the surface of the material by physical and chemical methods, obtaining volumetric porosity, including using additive technologies, creating composite materials, and developing bioactive coatings. New methods of creating zirconium ceramics compatible with living tissues containing bioactive ions that promote both osseointegration and bone tissue regeneration have been actively studied.

Conclusions Zirconium dioxide ceramics appear to be a promising alternative to titanium implants in terms of mechanical strength, biological functionality, chemical stability, osseointegration, and antibacterial properties. Future experimental and clinical studies will further improve zirconium ceramics.

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