[Long-term observation of large weight-bearing bone defect in goats repaired with tissue engineering technique].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the long-term effect of tissue engineering-based repair of large weight-bearing bone defect in goats, and the final outcome of the scaffold material coral hydroxyapatite (CHAP) in vivo.


METHODS
Fifteen Chinese goats were subjected to operations to induce a 2-cm left tibial diaphyseal defect, which was filled subsequently with CHAP and bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSCs). The repaired defects were evaluated by ECT, X-ray and histology in the early stage and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively.


RESULTS
ECT showed good bone regeneration and revascularization within 2 months postoperatively. X-ray and histology displayed eccentric and gradual bone regeneration in the early stage, and the tissue-engineered bone graft was firmly healed with the goat tibia. X-ray and histological examination at 6, 12, 18, 24 months postoperatively revealed moulding of the new bones and medullary cavity recanalization, and the structure of CHAP disappeared and gradually integrated into the new bones.


CONCLUSIONS
Tissue-engineered bone is capable of total repair of large bone defect in goats by forming normal functional new bones. CHAP can be eventually degraded completely and become the component of the newly generated bones.
Chen
Bin
B
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Pei
Guo-xian
GX
Wang
Ke
K
Tang
Guang-hui
GH
D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006041:Goats; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D018786:Bone Substitutes