Broken bones do not always repair fully, especially after major trauma such as a car accident. Complications can occur when the bone is broken in several places, the blood flow is reduced or infection sets in. Patients can suffer long-term from loss of income and disability.
There is significant demand for bone regeneration. Bone is the second most frequently transplanted tissue in Europe after blood, with about 1 million procedures annually. The worldwide market of bone replacement material is currently estimated at EUR 5 billion and is growing by 10 % each year.