Evaluation of the efficacy of a novel RIA/mPCL-TCP Scaffold System in repairing critical-sized segmental bone defects compared to the gold standard autograft treatment in an ovine large animal model

• Applicant: Dr. Jan Henkel
• Subject Area: Orthopaedics, Traumatology, Reconstructive Surgery ; Biomaterials ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: from 2013 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 249847580

The incidence and burden of bone fractures is a global public health issue. Fractures of the tibia are among the prevalent anatomical sites afflicted, with non-union rates of 14%. This not only prolongs the treatment duration but also extends the overall years of impairment for those affected, resulting in significant healthcare costs. The current gold standard treatment relies on autologous bone grafts, mainly harvested from the iliac crest (ICBG), and from the intramedullary canal of long bones via the Reamer-Irrigator-Aspirator (RIA) System. Viably comparable to the conventional ICBG treatment the latter stands out for its ability to collect substantial volumes of intramedullary bone graft with associated osteogenic properties. However, both approaches face constrains including limited availability, post-operative complications, and donor site morbidities. These inherent challenges have spurred the search for treatment solutions rooted in tissue engineering. Scaffold guided bone tissue engineering (SGBTE) has emerged as a promising alternative strategy to fulfill the escalating demand for bone graft material among orthopaedic surgeries. Utilizing QUTs well-established sheep animal model and the unique benefits of mPCL-TCP scaffolds in retaining and compartmentalizing autologous bone grafts (harvested with the Reamer-Irrigator-Aspirator-System, RIA, Depuy Synthes) within the scaffold matrix, this study aimed at exploring the feasibility of using a reduced volume of RIA bone graft for scaffold guided bone tissue engineering for the treatment of a 6cm critical-sized tibial bone defects in sheep.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Australia
• Hosts: Professor Dr. Dietmar W. Hutmacher, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Michael Schütz