Orthopedics and Tribology

Mammalian joints, including human joints,are mostly synovial joints, which have low friction and are long lasting. With life expectancy on the rise, we are facing an increase in joint "wear and tear" resulting in cartilage damage. Biological repair has its limitations and when the articular cartilage is severely affected joint replacement is the solution. The longevity of artificial joints is also limited requiring new avenues of research to extend their durability and reduce the cost of repeated operations.