Effective osteointegration is crucial for pedicle screws used in spinal fusion surgeries, as current screws often lack osteoinductive activity, leading to common complications like screw loosening.
Researchers developed Ti-6Al-4V pedicle screws using selective laser melting (SLM) and applied porous oxide coatings to enhance their surface properties.
A goat model showed that these modified screws improved bone maturation and osseointegration, suggesting a promising approach for better orthopedic internal fixation.