Biological effects of calcium sulfate as a bone graft substitute in ovine metaphyseal defects.
Calcium sulfate has been used as a bone graft substitute in many fields, from dentistry to orthopedics. However, the results of many studies have yielded inconclusive results. In the present study, a sheep model was used with tibial and femoral metaphyseal defects to determine whether calcium sulfate was as effective as autograft and allograft in promoting new bone formation in a critical size defect. Medical-grade calcium sulfate pellets, autograft bone, allograft bone, or nothing was used to fill the metaphyseal defects. The sheep were allowed to heal for 12 weeks. Sagittal sections from the bones were analyzed with high-resolution contact radiographs, backscattered electron microscopy, and light microscopy. The volume fractions of bone within the defect perimeter were determined, and the histologic quality of the bone was observed. The volume fraction of new bone in the autograft, calcium sulfate, and allograft were not statistically different, but all were significantly different than the untreated control. The majority of the calcium sulfate had been resorbed at 12 weeks, and the histologic quality of the bone appeared similar to the autograft-treated bone. Calcium sulfate appears to be a useful biocompatible bone graft substitute that yields results similar to autograft bone in sheep metaphyseal defects.
Peters
Christopher L
CL
Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah Orthopaedic Center, 590 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA.
Hines
Jerod L
JL
Bachus
Kent N
KN
Craig
Marcis A
MA
Bloebaum
Roy D
RD
D000818:Animals; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002133:Calcium Sulfate; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000293:injuries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010012:Osteogenesis; D012756:Sheep; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002133:Calcium Sulfate