Development of a new method in promoting fracture healing: multiple cryopreserved bone marrow injections using a rabbit model.
BACKGROUND
It was hypothesized that multiple injections of cryopreserved bone marrow (BM) would promote fracture healing.


METHODS
Experiments were performed to select a method for freezing BM nucleated cells based on the recovery rate, and to investigate the effects of frozen BM nucleated cells on fracture healing in a rabbit fracture nonunion model. Radiographic and histological evidences of bone union and new bone growth were compared between the experimental group and the control.


RESULTS
Storage of BM nucleated cells in 10% DMSO plus 90% autologous serum showed the optimal rate of cell recovery, cell viability, and osteoprogenitor cell recovery. Consecutive injections directly to the bone defect site with cryopreserved BM nucleated cells significantly increased the incidence of union, the radiographic volume and bone mineral density of repaired bone as compared with the control (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A new method was developed to efficiently freeze BM nucleated cells, and cells cryopreserved with this method were found to promote fracture healing by multiple injections. It is suggested that cryopreserved BM injection provides an alternative approach for grafting in delayed union or nonunion.
Ma
Hsiao-Li
HL
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Veterans General Hospital, 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen
Tain-Hsiung
TH
Hung
Shih-Chieh
SC
D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002452:Cell Count; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D016267:External Fixators; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide