In vivo studies on Mg-1Sc alloy for orthopedic application: A 5-months evaluation in rabbits

Abstract The feasibility of Mg-1Sc alloy as orthopedic implant was studied by in vivo implantation into femur shaft of rabbit. The in vivo corrosion rate of Mg-1Sc alloy was 0.60 ± 0.06 mm·y−1. Mg-1Sc alloy could maintain its structural and mechanical integrity for more than 5 months. Compared with Ti6Al4V alloy, Mg-1Sc showed better osteogenesis. The corrosion products were mainly composed of Mg(OH)2, MgCO3·3H2O and calcium phosphate, which would not induce toxic effect. In general, the decent degradation rate in vivo and superior osteogenesis of Mg-1Sc alloy indicate that it may be a promising candidate for biodegradable orthopedic implants.