Experimental study on the repair of tibial plateau defect

Abstract

【Abstract】 Objective: To evaluate the effect of autograft bone, allograft bone, calcium sulfate bone cement, and calcium phosphate bone cement on the repair of tibial plateau defect in rabbits. Methods: We used autograft bone, allograft bone, cal-cium sulfate bone cement, and calcium phosphate bone ce-ment to repair tibial plateau defect in rabbits. Gross and histo-logic observations, X-ray examination, and biomechanical test were conducted at 1, 2, 4, 8 weeks after operation. Results: X-ray examination found that the bone den-sity was evidently reduced in calcium sulfate group at 8 weeks after operation; there were no marked changes in other groups. The maximal load measurements showed that autograft and allograft groups were greater than calcium sulfate and calcium phosphate groups at 1 and 2 weeks after operation. However at 4 and 8 weeks after operation, no significant difference was found among the four groups. In autograft and allograft groups, there was no significant difference in biomechanical intensity at 2, 4, and 8 weeks, but it was significantly higher than that at 1 week. In cal-cium sulfate and calcium phosphate groups, the outcome was ranked in descending order as 1 week< 2 week< 4 week =8 week. Histologic examination found a great amount of new bones at 8 week in both autograft and allograft groups. In calcium sulfate group, calcium sulfate was almost absorbed and there were numerous bone trabeculations. There was a large amount of unabsorbed calcium phosphate in calcium phosphate group. Conclusion: At 1-2 weeks postoperatively, the biome-chanical intensity is higher in autograft and allograft groups than calcium sulfate and calcium phosphate groups, but after 4-8 weeks, there is no significant difference among groups. At 1-2 weeks, the biomechanical intensity in all groups is increased, but at 4-8 weeks, there is no significant increase. The rates of absorption and bone formation are quicker in calcium sulfate group than calcium phosphate group. Key words: Tibia; Fractures, bone; Bone trans-plantation; Knee joint