title: Serum albumin enhances bone healing in a nonunion femoral defect model in rats: a computer tomography micromorphometry study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Blood-derived proliferative factors such as platelet rich plasma or activated plasma are promising adjuvants for bone grafts. Our earlier studies showed that serum albumin itself can markedly enhance the proliferation of stem cells on bone allograft and postulated that albumin coating alone may improve bone graft integration in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two femoral defect models were performed in adult male Wistar rats. In the critical size model a six millimetre gap was created in the midshaft of the femur and fixed with plate and screws, while a nonunion model was established by the interposition of a spacer in the osteotomy for four weeks which resulted in compromised healing and nonunion. Albumin coated and uncoated grafts were placed into the defects. Bone healing and morphometry were evaluated by μCT and histology four weeks after implantation of the grafts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the critical size model none of the bone grafts were able to bridge the defect, and graft resorption was the typical outcome. In the nonunion model regular uncoated grafts had a low union rate (two out of six), which increased markedly when albumin coating was applied (six out of eight). Trabecular thickness and pattern factor improved significantly in the albumin coated group versus uncoated or empty controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that serum albumin coating of bone grafts can enhance the remodelling and efficacy of treatment in a nonunion model.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Semmelweis University, Karolina út 27, 1113, Budapest, Hungary. skaliczki@gmail.com
authors: Gábor
authors: G
authors: Skaliczki
authors: Károly
authors: K
authors: Schandl
authors: Miklós
authors: M
authors: Weszl
authors: Tibor
authors: T
authors: Major
authors: Miklós
authors: M
authors: Kovács
authors: József
authors: J
authors: Skaliczki
authors: Miklós
authors: M
authors: Szendrői
authors: Csaba
authors: C
authors: Dobó-Nagy
authors: Zsombor
authors: Z
authors: Lacza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000517:prevention & control; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin