Browsing by Subject "Bone substitute"

Critical-sized diaphysis defects are complicated by inherent sub-optimal healing conditions. The two- staged induced membrane technique has been used to treat these challenging defects since the 1980’s. It involves temporary implantation of a membrane-inducing spacer and subsequent bone graft defect fill- ing. A single-staged, graft-independent technique would reduce both socio-economic costs and patient morbidity. Our aim was to enable such single- staged approach through development of a strong bioac- tive glass scaffold that could replace both the spacer and the graft filling. We constructed amorphous porous scaffolds of the clinically used bioactive glass S53P4 and evaluated them in vivo using a critical- sized defect model in the weight-bearing femur diaphysis of New Zealand White rabbits. S53P4 scaffolds and standard polymethylmethacrylate spacers were implanted for 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Induced membranes were confirmed histologically, and their osteostimulative activity was evaluated through RT-qPCR of bone morphogenic protein 2, 4, and 7 (BMPs). Bone formation and osseointegration were examined using his- tology, scanning electron microscopy, energy- dispersive X-ray analysis, and micro-computed tomography imaging. Scaffold integration, defect union and osteosynthesis were assessed manually and with X-ray projections. We demonstrated that S53P4 scaffolds induce osteostimulative membranes and produce os- seointegrative new bone formation throughout the scaffolds. We also demonstrated successful stable scaf- fold integration with early defect union at 8 weeks postoperative in critical-sized segmental diaphyseal defects with implanted sintered amorphous S53P4 scaffolds. This study presents important considerations for future research and the potential of the S53P4 bioactive glass as a bone substitute in large diaphyseal defects.