| abstract |
The present invention generally relates to orthopedic devices (10, 12, 14, 62, 64, 66, 100, 102, 104, 200, 202, 204, 210) and methods for treating bone defects. The orthopedic devices can provide sufficient support to the bone defect while allowing bone ingrowth and minimizing the risk to stress shield and/or pseudo-arthrodesis. The bone fixation devices include a biodegradable material or component (32, 34, 36, 86, 87, 88, 130, 172, 192, 186) that further resists relative motion of attached bones and allows the device to gradually transfer at least some load from the device to the growing bone structure in vivo and permitting an increase in the relative motion of bones attached to the device. |