Osteopromotion for cranioplasty: an experimental study in rats using acidic fibroblast growth factor.
BACKGROUND
Many growth factors influence the bone healing cascade. Furthermore, the occasional failure of bone repair may in part be due to perturbation in the activation of local growth factors. Local activation of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) at the fracture site may serve to increase neovascularization, and induce early granulation formation that can affect bone healing.


METHODS
We have performed a rat parietal (6 x 3 mm) critical size defect (CSD). Human recombinant acidic fibroblast growth factor (hraFGF) imbided in agarose was topically administered at the craniectomy site. Control animals received agarose alone in the same manner. Three weeks after surgery, osteopromotion was histologically evaluated.


RESULTS
hraFGF-treated animals show a continuous bridge of regenerated bone extending from one edge of the defect to the other. None of the parietal defects that had been treated with agarose contained new bone in the central portion.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest an important role of FGFs to promote large cranioplasty repair and support the use of these proteins as an alternative choice for bone grafts and bone substitutes.
Cuevas
P
P
Servicio de Histología, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
de Paz
V
V
Cuevas
B
B
Marin-Martinez
J
J
Picon-Molina
M
M
Fernández-Pereira
A
A
Giménez-Gallego
G
G
D000818:Animals; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010012:Osteogenesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012886:Skull / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1