Fracture Putty: It Heals, Bounces, Molds, Stretches, Snaps & More!

Broken bones could heal in a matter of weeks, thanks to a new concotion developed by researchers at the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center: “Fracture putty.”

A stem-cell-infused gel, fracture putty induces rapid bone healing by producing a protein essential to bone formation. And it does so very quickly. When treated with the gel, rats with fractured hind legs showed no evidence of injury in about two weeks.

Trials of the substance on larger animals have only just begun, but they seem promising. Tested in sheep, fracture putty sped the healing process, as well — though not quite as quickly.

Still, researchers are hopeful that further refinement will transform the substance into something that can be used to treat humans, especially injured soldiers.

“Complex fractures are a major cause of amputation of limbs for U.S. military men and women,” said stem-cell researcher Steve Stice. “For many young soldiers, their mental health becomes a real issue when they are confined to a bed for three to six months after an injury. This discovery may allow them to be up and moving as fast as days afterward.”