Orthopedics Commons^™

The Effects Of Emerging Technology On Healthcare And The Difficulties Of Integration, Skyler J. Pavlish-Carpenter

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Disruptive technology describes technology that is significantly more advanced than previous iterations, such as: 3D printing, genetic manipulation, stem cell research, innovative surgical procedures, and computer-based charting software. These technologies often require extensive overhauls to implement into older systems and must overcome many difficult financial and societal complications before they can be widely used. In a field like healthcare that makes frequent advancements, these difficulties can mean that the technology will not be utilized to its full potential or implemented at all.

Objective: To determine the inhibiting factors that prevent disruptive technology from being implemented in conventional healthcare.

Methods: …

Development Of Porous Polymeric Implants For Use In Orthopedic Research And Development Applications, Alexander Caddell

Honors College

Current orthopedic implants comprised of plastic, ceramic, or metal alloys are susceptible to surface degradation at the implant-implant interface. The resulting microscopic fragments cause tissue irritation that can lead to osteolysis. In addition, existing percutaneous implants, such as pins used to stabilize fractures, are prone to bacterial infections due to the inability of the surrounding soft tissue to adhere to the implant and form a biologic seal. The goal of this Honors Thesis was to develop porous polymeric implants for orthopedic research and development applications that improve upon current designs in an attempt to remedy the issues detailed above. A …