Background
Donor site morbidity is a problem after autologous bone transplantation. An injectable CaP bone cement indicates properties similar to bone.
Materials and methods
Double osteotomies on rat tibias were performed. The intercalated segments were avascular (10), vascular (10), or avascular with Norian SRS® CaP bone cement replacing cancellous bone (10). Controls were non-operated contralateral tibias (15). All osteotomies were stabilised with an intra-medullary nail. After 8 weeks, all rats were killed. The harvested tibias were compared using X-ray, DEXA scanning, microCT scans and a biomechanical torsional test.
Results
No difference in healing processes or biomechanical results has been found between the avascular bone graft, vascular bone graft and CaP bone cement groups.
Conclusion
The injectable CaP bone cement confirms its similarities to bone, implying that it can be used as an adjunct to secure bone fragments and as a possible alternative to autologous bone transplantation in clinical practice.