Orthopaedic Applications of Carbon Fibers

Of the myriad materials known to man, only a few are tolerated by the body following implantation. Either the body attacks the implant directly, or the implant causes a toxic reaction by the tissues. Some materials that are tolerated by the body, such as carbon, have no recognized clinical use because they lack suitable mechanical properties. The development of various forms of synthetic carbon in the 1950s fostered interest in potential medical applications. In 1977, Jenkins suggested that carbon in the form of thin fibers might be useful in the repair of tendons and ligaments, and worldwide effort ensued to evaluate the possibility. The aim here is briefly to describe carbon fibers and to outline the view of the mechanism underlying their clinical significance.