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Repair of bone defects by applying biomatrices with and without autologous osteoblasts.

Henkel KO, Gerber T, Dörfling P, Gundlach KK, Bienengräber V

Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, University of Rostock, Germany. kai-olaf.henkel@med.uni-rostock.de

QUESTION: Is it possible to stimulate osteoconduction and osteogenesis to improve bone formation in critical-size defects in order to avoid bone grafting? MATERIAL AND METHODS: Full thickness, critical-sized defects were created in the anterior mandible of 16 adult mini-pigs. The defects were filled with a new bioactive matrix (60% hydroxyapatite and 40% beta-tricalciumphosphate), produced by an innovative low temperature sol-gel-process (120 degrees C). The biomatrix was tested alone and in combination with cultured autologous osteoblasts. In a control group, periosteum was the only bone producing source. Five weeks postoperatively, the animals were sacrificed and the defects analysed macroscopically, histologically and radiographically. RESULTS: The highest rate of new bone formation was in the biomatrix group without osteoblasts (73% of the former defect). The biomatrix was degraded at the same speed as new bone was laid down. In the control group, bone formation of only 59% was observed. Additional transplantation of autologous osteoblasts in combination with the biomatrix did not result in more bone production than in the control group(!). CONCLUSION: This new bioactive calciumphosphate matrix seems to be a promising bone replacement material.

Published 7 February 2005 in J Craniomaxillofac Surg, 33(1): 45-9.
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