fibrin and Fractures--Ununited

Nonunion is a major orthopaedic concern because of treatment difficulty, high costs and devastating effects on the patients' life quality. Therefore, there is interest in the use of bone substitutes and cell-based strategies to augment fracture repair. We aimed to verify if Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) added with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) was able to improve the reparative process in the aseptic nonunion, and to establish whether it was worthwhile with atrophic nonunion. The primary outcome was radiological union. As secondary endpoint, the healing time was assessed, and the radiological consolidation grade at each follow-up.. We identified 113 subjects with tibia or femur nonunion and retrospectively created two groups. Group A was constituted by 56 subjects who underwent the standard procedure, i.e. Judet decortication with/out internal fixation devices, and opposite cortical homoplastic stick. In 57 patients, the standard procedure was modified by adding PRF and BMSC carried by homologous lyophilised bone chips (group B). The same surgeon performed all the operations. To our knowledge, no data are reported in the literature about such application. Since a "gold standard" for healing quantification does not exist, a new scoring radiological system was applied, at 1.5, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment.. At the final 24-month follow-up, the radiological union percentage was 94,12 in group B and 95,12% in group A. A decreased healing time was demonstrated in the presence of PRF/BMSC in comparison with the standard procedure. When we compared the radiological scores at each follow-up, we found that the PRF/BMSC combination significantly improved the consolidation grade at 1.5-, 3- and 6-month follow-up in femurs and at 1.5-month follow-up in tibiae. Furthermore, an improved consolidation grade was demonstrated in the atrophic subjects treated with adjuvants compared to atrophic patients treated with the standard procedure at 1.5-month follow-up.. This study supports the concept that the use of PRF/BMSC, during the standard procedure, is effective in shortening nonunion healing time. It could allow an early mobilization of patients, minimizing suffering, and could be an effective tool to reduce the health-care costs resulting from this issue.. Therapeutic level III.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bone Plates; Bone Regeneration; Female; Femoral Fractures; Fibrin; Fracture Fixation, Internal; Fracture Healing; Fractures, Ununited; Humans; Male; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Middle Aged; Radiography; Retrospective Studies; Tibial Fractures; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

In our study we investigated the influence of debridement on bone healing in a rodent critical size defect model with and without rhBMP-2 in fibrin matrix. A total of 58 male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a first surgical procedure where a femoral osteotomy was performed. In the single step group the defect remained empty and the specimens were collected 4 weeks later. A silicone spacer was implanted to inhibit bone healing within the defect in all the other groups. At 4 weeks the spacer was removed in a second operation with and without debridement of the bone ends and fibrin matrix alone or combined with 10 μg rhBMP-2 were applied. 4 weeks after the primary operation those specimens were collected. All the specimens were evaluated by μCT scans and histological analysis. Debridement of the defect significantly increased bone volume in the animals treated with rhBMP-2. In the control groups without growth factor application the effect of debridement was not significant concerning the union rate and the bone volume. In our experimental setting surgical debridement of the non-union site particularly promoted bone healing in combination with BMP-2 administration in fibrin matrix.

Topics: Animals; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; Debridement; Disease Models, Animal; Femoral Fractures; Femur; Fibrin; Fracture Healing; Fractures, Ununited; Male; Osteotomy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recombinant Proteins; Treatment Outcome

Treatment of delayed bone healing and non-unions after fractures, osteotomies or arthrodesis still is a relevant clinical challenge. Artificially applied growth factors can increase bone healing and progressively gain importance in clinical routine. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of rhPDGF-BB, rhVEGF-165, and rhBMP-2 in fibrin matrix on bone healing in a delayed-union rat model. Thirty-seven rats underwent a first operation where a standardized femoral critical size defect was created. A silicone spacer was implanted to impair vascularization within the defect. At 4 weeks the spacer was removed in a second operation and rhPDGF-BB, rhVEGF-165, or rhBMP-2 were applied in a fibrin clot. Animals in a fourth group received a fibrin clot without growth factors. At 8 weeks fibrin bound rhBMP-2 treated animals showed a significantly increased union rate and bone volume within the defect compared to the other groups. Single application of fibrin bound rhPDGF-BB and rhVEGF-165 failed to increase bone healing in our atrophic non-union model.

Topics: Animals; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; Femoral Fractures; Femur; Fibrin; Fracture Healing; Fractures, Ununited; Male; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recombinant Proteins; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

A new experimental model is described in which pulmonary changes identical with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can be induced by reproducible musculoskeletal trauma in anesthetized pigs. The pigs were studied in maintained anesthesia for 3 days after the trauma under standardized conditions. The intrapulmonary aggregation of platelets and fibrin was monitored by external detection of radioactivity arising from pretrauma intravenous injection of 51Cr-labeled platelets and 125I-labeled fibrinogen. Pulmonary trapping of platelets and fibrin was significantly greater in the traumatized pigs than in nontraumatized but otherwise identically handled controls. Radiologic and morphologic changes corresponding to ARDS developed in the traumatized animals, but not in the controls. The experimental model offers new possibilities for study of factors influencing the occurrence and development of ARDS. After further experimental evaluation, the procedure for registering pulmonary microembolism by external detection may be useful in the clinical management of ARDS.

Topics: Animals; Blood Platelets; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Femoral Fractures; Fibrin; Fractures, Ununited; Lung; Male; Platelet Aggregation; Radiography; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Swine; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Anticoagulants; Blood Coagulation Disorders; Bone Development; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Fibrin; Fractures, Bone; Fractures, Ununited; Hematoma; Hemophilia A; Heparin; Humans; Infant; Male; Periosteum; Pseudarthrosis; Rabbits; Radiography; Radius Fractures; Warfarin; Wound Healing