Growth factors for skeletal reconstruction and fracture repair.

The demographic challenges of an ageing population have emphasized the need for processes to augment and repair skeletal tissue loss as a consequence of trauma and/or degeneration. A number of bone growth factors have been shown to be expressed during the course of fracture healing, suggesting a potential role in bone and cartilage formation, and in fracture repair. This review focuses on a select number of these growth factors currently under preclinical and clinical evaluation for skeletal regeneration and fracture repair. The limitations in the use of these skeletal factors to augment bone growth, thus improving quality-of-life and reducing the significant social and economic costs associated with skeletal trauma/loss are also considered.