The basis of modern orthopedic implants began with the first implants created in the early 1900s.¹ Metallic plates for stabilizing fractures were some of the first implants used on the human body. As medical sciences, materials science, and engineering fields advanced, so did the development of orthopedic implants to create more biocompatible and better load-bearing implants.

One of the largest challenges with orthopedic implants is rejection of the implant by the human body.^2,3 The body rejects these implants for a myriad of reasons, such as bacteria, underlying health reasons, and long-term exposure to prosthetic debris due to metal-on-metal contact.1 In recent years, glass- and ceramic-coated metallic implants have become more common because they overcome some of these issues (Figure 1).⁴