Comparative fixation of tibial plateau fractures using alpha-BSM, a calcium phosphate cement, versus cancellous bone graft.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the compressive strength of a bone substitute material (alpha-BSM) to cancellous bone when used to fill a defect void in a cadaver model of a Schatzker II split depression fracture of the lateral tibial plateau.


METHODS
Randomized, paired design.


METHODS
Biomedical engineering laboratory.


METHODS
Twenty-six human tibias were harvested from 13 cadavers. Three pairs of tibia fractured during preparation and were excluded. The remaining 10 matched pairs were randomized to fixation by using the bone substitute material or cancellous bone.


METHODS
A split depression fracture of the lateral tibial plateau was created in each tibia by using reproducible methods. This fracture was stabilized with a stainless steel L-plate and screws and either alpha-BSM or cancellous bone to fill the defect void.


METHODS
Stiffness of the elevated fragment in compression, total depression of the joint at 1000 N.


RESULTS
The alpha-BSM bone substitute displayed significantly greater stiffness than cancellous bone constructs in Schatzker II split depression fractures of the lateral tibial plateau (P < 0.0001). Plateau defects displaced significantly less at 1000 N when using alpha-BSM in comparison to cancellous bone (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
In this cadaveric study, alpha-BSM is an effective bone substitute compared with cancellous bone graft for stabilizing split depression fractures of the lateral tibial plateau.
Trenholm
Andrew
A
Dalhousie University School of Biomedical Engineering, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Landry
Scott
S
McLaughlin
Kyle
K
Deluzio
Kevin J
KJ
Leighton
Jennifer
J
Trask
Kelly
K
Leighton
Ross K
RK
D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing
D001843:Bone Cements; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C020243:calcium phosphate