Risks

Risks

Current Selection Filters

All

45 Risks found.
1	Accelerated Bone Loss and Fracture Risk
2	Impaired Fracture Healing
3	Injury to Joints and Intervertebral Structures
4	Renal Stone Formation
5	Occurrence of Serious Cardiac Dysrhythmias
6	Diminished Cardiac and Vascular Function
7	Define Acceptable Limits for Contaminants in Air and Water
8	Immune Dysfunction, Allergies and Autoimmunity
9	Interaction of Space flight Factors, Infections and Malignancy
10	Alterations in Microbes and Host Interactions

Risk 2: Impaired Fracture Healing

Crosscutting Area : Human Health and Countermeasures

Discipline : Bone Loss

Description : Bone fractures incurred during and immediately after long duration space flight may require a prolonged period for healing, and the bone may be incompletely restored due to changes in bone metabolism associated with space flight.

Context / Risk Factors : Space flight associated bone loss may increase the risk of traumatic and stress fractures. Inflight risk of injury should be minimized through design of hardware and procedures. Risks may vary between individuals.

Justification / Rationale : Bone loss associated with space flight may result in additional risk of fracture. Threat to crew health and mission will depend on fracture site, severity and treatment options available. Risk of fracture on ISS is considered extremely low. Risk of fracture on a Lunar mission is low. For a Mars Mission, there is a risk of serious health or performance consequences may be greater because of lack of return capability.

Reference Missions :

ISS

Lunar

Mars

Risk Rating

Priority 3

Current Countermeasures

Minimize bone loss to lessen fracture risk
Rehabilitation procedures
Crew return capability
Hardware design and procedures to reduce the likelihood of injury

Projected Countermeasures or Mitigations and Other Deliverables with their CRL/TRL scores

Biomechanical and pharmacological measures to promote more rapid healing [CRL 5]
Ultrasound and electrical stimulation [CRL 2] [Lunar]

[Mars]

Minimize bone loss
Development of treatment options [Lunar]

[Mars]

Research & Technology Questions

No.	Question	Priority
2a	Is the rate of fracture healing and the integrity of the healed fracture altered under hypogravity or unloaded conditions?	1
2b	Are there site-specific differences or differences in healing diaphyseal bone versus metaphyseal bone under microgravity or partial-gravity conditions?	3
2c	Which cellular and biochemical changes in bone cell biology alter fracture healing under microgravity conditions?	4
2d	Does the presence of microgravity-induced alteration in bone remodeling and/or osteoporosis affect fracture callus remodeling?	2
2e	How do changes in skeletal muscle-bone interactions during space flight contribute to altered fracture healing in microgravity?	4
2f	Do biophysical modalities play a role in improving fracture healing in a microgravity environment?	2
2g	Do biophysical modalities play a role in improving fracture healing in the presence of bone loss in a microgravity environment?	2
2h	Are there anabolic agents, growth factors, or cytokines that will speed fracture repair during microgravity in combination with active bone loss due to unloading?	1
2i	What technologies will be used to diagnose fractures of the axial and appendicular skeleton in a space environment?	1
2j	Will different technologies be needed to treat either open or closed fractures in a space environment?	1