Traditional　inert　materials　used　in　internal　fixation　have　caused　many　complications　and　generally　require　removal　with　secondary　surgeries.　Biodegradable　materials,　such　as　magnesium　(Mg)-,　iron　(Fe)-　and　zinc　(Zn)-based　alloys,　open　up　a　new　pathway　to　address　those　issues.　During　the　last　decades,　Mg-based　alloys　have　attracted　much　attention　by　researchers.　However,　the　issues　with　an　over-fast　degradation　rate　and　release　of　hydrogen　still　need　to　be　overcome.　Zn　alloys　have　comparable　mechanical　properties　with　traditional　metal　materials,　e.g.,　titanium　(Ti),　and　have　a　moderate　degradation　rate,　potentially　serving　as　a　good　candidate　for　internal　fixation　materials,　especially　at　load-bearing　sites　of　the　skeleton.　Emerging　Zn-based　alloys　and　composites　have　been　developed　in　recent　years　and　in　vitro　and　in　vivo　studies　have　been　performed　to　explore　their　biodegradability,　mechanical　property,　and　biocompatibility　in　order　to　move　towards　the　ultimate　goal　of　clinical　application　in　fracture　fixation.　This　article　seeks　to　offer　a　review　of　related　research　progress　on　Zn-based　biodegradable　materials,　which　may　provide　a　useful　reference　for　future　studies　on　Zn-based　biodegradable　materials　targeting　applications　in　orthopedic　internal　fixation.