title: Effects of demineralized bone matrix on tendon-bone healing in an intra-articular rodent model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Techniques to improve and accelerate tendon-bone healing could be advantageous in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Effects of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) on intra-articular tendon-bone healing have not been examined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Demineralized bone matrix has the potential to convey osteoinductive growth proteins to the site of healing at the tendon-bone interface. We hypothesized that the presence of DBM will result in more bone formation and hasten tendon-bone healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six female athymic rnu/rnu (nude) rats were used. Rats were randomly allocated into 2 groups (control or treatment). The control group underwent an ACL reconstruction, while the treatment group had human DBM implanted in the tendon graft and bone tunnel before reconstruction. Rats were sacrificed at 2 (n = 8), 4 (n = 24), and 6 (n = 24) weeks for histological, and immunohistochemical (t = 2, 4, and 6 weeks), and biomechanical testing and micro-computed tomography (t = 4 and 6 weeks) end points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings suggest that in the presence of DBM, tendon-bone healing is augmented by increased woven bone formation and enhanced bone remodeling as indicated by histology and micro-computed tomography. This ultimately resulted in a statistically significant increase in peak load to failure of the tendon-bone interface at 4 weeks (DBM group: 5.96 ± 1.36 N; control group: 2.86 ± 0.7 N) and 6 weeks (DBM group: 9.13 ± 0.97 N; control group: 5.81 ± 1.1 N).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Demineralized bone matrix at the tendon-bone interface promotes healing between the tendon and bone in a rodent ACL model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Introduction of osteoinductive DBM at the tendon-bone interface during ACL reconstructive surgery may improve short-term outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Surgical & Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NS NSW 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lovric
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Rema A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Genin
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001857:Bone Matrix; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D011923:Rats, Nude; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation*; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography