Repair of bone allograft fracture using bone morphogenetic protein-2

Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2002 Apr:(397):119-26. doi: 10.1097/00003086-200204000-00017.

Abstract

Long-term clinical data have shown that reconstruction using bone allografts provide adequate function after extensive tumor surgery. Complications such as nonunion of allograft-host interface, infection, and allograft fracture often require major revision surgeries. Allograft fractures usually do not induce the same repair process that is seen in normal fracture healing. The authors did an experimental study to test whether bone morphogenetic protein-2 can induce and achieve osseous repair in an allograft osteotomy model. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 was applied at femoral intercalary allograft osteotomy sites in 20 rats. Forty additional rats served as controls (carrier alone and sham). Specimens in all groups were examined histologically and radiographically at 4 and 8 weeks. Specimens in the control groups showed only fibrosis by 8 weeks. In contrast, none of 10 specimens in the experimental group showed radiographic union at 8 weeks. New bone formation and integration with underlying allografts were seen in the experimental group as early as 4 weeks. These data suggest that fracture repair in the allograft bone can be triggered by a biologic regulator that is expressed during normal fracture healing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Bony Callus
  • Femoral Fractures / physiopathology
  • Femoral Fractures / surgery*
  • Fracture Healing / drug effects*
  • Fracture Healing / physiology
  • Models, Animal
  • Osteotomy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / pharmacology*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / therapeutic use

Substances

  • BMP2 protein, human
  • Bmp2 protein, rat
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta