Clinical use of resorbable polymeric membranes in the treatment of bone defects.

The reconstruction of large bone defects remains a clinically challenging condition. Although many treatment approaches exist, they all have limitations. Recently, bioresorbable polylactide membranes have become commercially available. These membranes, when applied to bone defects, enhance bone healing by direct osteoconduction, exclusion of nonosseous tissues, and enhancing the osteogenic environment for autologous grafts. When combined with appropriate internal fixation and autologous bone graft, bioresorbable polylactide membranes allow for single-step reconstruction of large bone defects.