[Use of cortical bone plates allografts for reconstruction of femoral fracture: an experimental study in goats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the outcome of reconstructing goat femoral fracture by use of cortical bone plates allografts that have been kept by deep-freezing at -70 degrees C for 4 weeks after being treated with 48 degrees C ethylene oxide.


METHODS
The recipients, sixteen 10-12-month-old goats with fractures of right femur were subjected the operation for transplanting the cortical bone plates allografts in the medial, lateral and back sides of fractured femurs. The goats were sacrificed and the specimens were procured at 3, 6, 12, and 24 weeks after surgery for X-ray photography, Chinese ink perfusion, tetracycline fluorescence labeling and histological observation in order evaluate the healing of fracture and the incorporation of cortical bone plates allografts.


RESULTS
The allograft strut was found revascularized at 6 weeks after surgery in the fracture group, whereas at 3 weeks in the control group. The tetracycline fluorescence labeling was poor in the fracture group as compared with that in the control group from 3 weeks to 6 weeks, but it was better in the fracture group than in the control group beyond 6 weeks after surgery. Fracture was healed and bone conjunction between allograft strut and host bone was seen at weeks after operation. The allograft strut was incorporated in host bone, the ability of remodeling of allograft strut and the size of femoral cortex were better in the fracture group than in the control group at 24 weeks after surgery. The fracture was displaced in 19% animals and the allograft bone plates were not fractured.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of allograft strut pre-treated by ethylene oxide sterilization and deep-freezing could underpin fixation and promote healing of femoral fracture, and it can increase bone reservation and augment the strength of femur once the allograft strut is incorporated in the host bone.
Zhou
Zong-Ke
ZK
Orthopaedic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Pei
Fu-Xing
FX
Cheng
Jing-Qiu
JQ
Tu
Chong-Qi
CQ
Lian
Yong-Yun
YY
Li
Xiu-Qiong
XQ
D000818:Animals; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006041:Goats; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous