Small Wonders: How Nanotechnology Is Redefining Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

Objective

Nanotechnology has been increasingly incorporated into shoulder and elbow surgery, from bioinductive collagen scaffolds for rotator cuff repair to nanostructured implant surfaces for arthroplasty and nanoparticle-functionalized sutures for elbow tendon repair. This review evaluates the current evidence base for these applications and clarifies which technologies are supported by clinical data versus preclinical/mechanistic evidence alone.