Injuries

A substance known as calcium phosphate cement is commonly used to repair broken bones, both holding them together and encouraging the growth of new bone tissue. Now, scientists have added carbon fibers to the material to also make it self-healing.

“Use it or lose it” applies to muscles, but unfortunately so does “don’t use it too much or lose it.” Now, researchers at Temple University have tested a drug that appears to reverse muscle damage from overuse injuries in rats.

Polysporin may be in for some serious competition, as Swedish scientists have created a healing gel that not only kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but also reduces inflammation within wounds. It could someday replace antibiotic-based medications.

When it comes to repairing bone injuries or defects, some scientists have been experimenting with what's known as bone morphogenetic protein. It does have some limitations, but those could soon be overcome through the use of a new biomaterial.

Although essential oils are typically associated with aromatherapy, new research indicates that medicines based on them could also help to heal skin wounds. It all comes down to a certain substance in some of the oils, that reduces inflammation.

When a bone-break occurs, the body floods the injury site with a healing biochemical known as adenosine. A new bandage is designed to absorb that substance, keeping it around so it can do more work.

It's important to treat frostbite quickly, as it can lead to gangrene and ultimately amputation. A new spray gel could help, allowing for highly-effective treatment in places where it might not otherwise be possible.

When first responders are tending to accident victims with lacerations, one of their primary goals is to control the bleeding. It may someday be possible for them to do so more effectively than ever, by injecting patients with a magnetic fluid.

​According to research conducted by Canadian materials engineering technologist Albert Beyer, about 68 percent of hockey, skiing and snowboarding-related concussions are caused by impacts to the back of the head. With that in mind, Beyer created The Goose Egg.

​If you were designing a new back brace, trying it out on people could be risky – what if it was flawed, and ended up hurting the test subjects? It was with this in mind that scientists at Britain's University of Lancaster have created what is reportedly the world's first human torso simulator.

​Tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and "mouse arm" all have two things in common: they're the result of muscle strain, and they're the subject of a new wearable. Known as MLI Elbow, the Danish device is aimed at alerting users to actions that could cause such injuries.

​With a few experimental exceptions, bandages generally just cover wounds, as opposed to actively healing them. That's not the case with a new heat-activated "active adhesive dressing" (AAD), however, which forgoes antibiotics while mimicking embryonic skin.