In Orthopedic surgery implants may refer to devices that are placed over or within bones to hold a fracture reduction and prosthesis would be the more appropriate term for devices that replace a part or whole of a defunct joint. In this context implants may be placed within the body (internal) or placed over the body (external).
An implant may also refer to a medication based on a drug suspended in a slow-release solid polypeptide carrier. These are usually administered by subcutaneous injection. |