title: Assessment of Mastergraft(®) strip with bone marrow aspirate as a graft extender in a rabbit posterolateral fusion model.
abstract: METHODS
  Randomized, controlled study in a laboratory setting. Blinded observations/assessment of study outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The Purpose of this study is to determine the performance characteristics of Mastergraft(®) Strip with bone marrow aspirate (BMA) as a bone graft extender in a rabbit posterolateral spine fusion model.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The rabbit posterolateral fusion model is an established environment for testing of fusion concepts. It offers the opportunity to obtain radiographic, histological, and biomechanical data on novel fusion materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty six rabbits were entered into the study with 34 used for analysis. Bilateral posterolateral lumbar intertransverse fusions were performed at L5-L6. the lateral two thirds of the transverse processes were decorticated and covered with graft material: autograft only (2.5 - 3.0 cc/side), 75% Mastergraft(®) Strip + 5.0 cc BMA / 25% autograft (3.0 cc total per side), or 50% Mastergraft(®) Strip + 5.0cc BMA and 50% autograft (3.0 cc total per side). Animals were humanely euthanized at 8 weeks post surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The autograft group had a 60% radiographic fusion rate (6/10) and a manual palpation fusion rate of 50% (5/10). the 50% Mastergraft(®) Strip group had a 75% radiographic and manual palpation fusion rate (9/12). the 75% Mastergraft(®) Strip group demonstrated a 58% (7/12) radiographic and manual palpation fusion rate. Histologically, no adverse inflammatory reactions of significant size were present. The two Mastergraft(®) Strip groups demonstrated a tendency towards more bone development across the fusion bed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this commonly used rabbit posterolateral fusion model, Mastergraft(®) Strip with BMA in an autograft extender mode produces biomechanical and radiographic results similar to autograft fusion alone.
authors.affiliation: The University of Iowa Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Smucker
authors.forename: Emily B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: James V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Nepola
authors.forename: Douglas C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Fredericks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D007085:Ilium / Q000637:transplantation*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes