BONE ADAPTATION-DRIVEN DESIGN OF PERIODIC SCAFFOLDS

This work introduces a computational method for designing bone scaffolds for maximum bone growth. A mechanobiological model of bone adaptation is used to compute the bone growth, taking into account the shape of the defect, the applied loading, and the existing density distribution of the bone in which the scaffold has been implanted. Numerical homogenization and a geometry projection technique are used to efficiently obtain surrogates of the effective elastic and diffusive properties of the scaffold as a function of the scaffold design and the bone density. These property surrogates are in turn used to perform bone adaptation simulations of the scaffold-bone system for a sampling of scaffold designs. Surrogates of the bone growth in the scaffold at the end of the simulated time and of the strain energy of the scaffold at implantation time are subsequently constructed from these simulations. Using these surrogates, we optimize the design of a scaffold implanted in a rabbit femur to maximize bone growth into the scaffold while ensuring a minimum stiffness at implantation. The results of the optimization demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design methodology and they provide evidence that designing a scaffold with regards to bone adaptation yields larger bone growth than considering only mechanical criteria.

Comparative Osteointegration Testing of Titanium Implants in Relation to Gender After One Month of Implantation in Rabbit Femur

The biologic material used in this study is represented by 6 rabbits, 3 males and 3 females, aged 11 months and having an average weight of 4 kg. After general anaesthesia was performed, 2 mm diameter titanium implants were surgically inserted in the femur. Postoperative care of the animals included daily observation. After 4 weeks the animals were euthanized according to the guidelines. The femurs were collected along with the implants and processed for histological examination. The samples were placed in Stieve mixture for fixation, dehydrated with ethylic alcohol, clarified with 1-Butanol, and followed by paraffin embedding. 5 micrometers sections were cut using a microtome, and then stained using the Goldner trichrome staining method and were examined using an Olympus BX41 microscope with an attached digital camera for image capturing. In all animals, the implant was well tolerated by the bone and soft tissue implantation bed. The osteointegration process took place through bone formation around the implant, with variations in thickness and structure throughout the bone-implant interface. Except for the accelerated speed of osteointegration steps, observed in males, the osteointegration process follows certain stages and no gender related differences. The rapid progress of osteointegration in males resulted in a faster process in this gender compared to females. This aspect is clinically relevant for the appropriate evaluation of waiting periods from implant placement to prosthetic mounting, which according to this study is different in males and females.

Effect of titanium plate fixation on bone healing

Bone formation which is a process before bone remodeling in fracture healing process, was investigated in this study by fixing metallic plate after an artificially created defect in a rabbit femur. Although a complete bone remodeling takes about 6 weeks, present study was conducted by observing the condition of the bone within 3 weeks of healing period. An artificial defect was made in a rabbit femur and Ti-6Al-4V ELI (Ti-64) fixation plate was fixed with two screws on both ends while a defect without fixation was set as the control. After 3 weeks, the femur bone was harvested and evaluated with scanning electron microscopy, Vickers hardness test, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Ti-64 fixation showed rapid bone formation but external callus remaining on the defect area and its surrounding bone area. This bone callus may be replaced with healed bone with the passage of time. On the other hand, control showed incomplete bone formation and bone callus formed in the area without the defect, including further regions from the defect area. This may be affected by irregular load transmission and instability around the bone defect area. We conclude that, Ti-64 fixation shows better bone formation and bone hardness than the control.

Acceleration of Bone Fracture Healing through the Use of Natural Bovine Hydroxyapatite Implant on Bone Defect Animal Model

Bone is an important organ for supports the body that stores reserve of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals. In fracture conditions where bleeding, soft tissue edema, nerve damage, and blood vessels around the bone damage happen, they can cause the mobilization of these minerals in the surrounding tissue. One of the efforts made in the treatment of these fractures is reconnection, in which it works by filling of bone defect with a matrix and administration of anti-infection. Biomaterial filling in defective bone is thought to accelerate the healing process of bone fracture and prevent osteomyelitis. For this reason, this study evaluates the acceleration of bone fracture healing using natural hydroxyapatite (NHA) bone filler in rabbits with bone defect model. Fracture modeling was performed by surgical technique and drilling of bones with a 4.2 mm diameter to form a defect in the rabbit femur. Bone implant contained bovine hydroxyapatite-gelatin-glutaraldehyde (BHA implant) or bovine hydroxyapatite-gelatin-glutaraldehyde-gentamicin (BHA-GEN implant) that was inserted in bone defects. 27 rabbits were divided into 3 groups: the control group who had bone defect, the bone defect group was given BHA implant and the bone defect group was given BHA-GEN implant. Observation of osteoclast, osteoblast, osteocyte, BALP level, and bone morphological integrity was carried out on the 14th, 28th, and 42nd days after surgery. Histological observation of rabbit femur showed a significant difference on the number of osteoclast, osteoblast and osteocyte in all three groups. The BALP level also showed a significant difference in the group given the natural BHA bone implant compared to the control group on day 14 (p = 0.0361). Based on the result of the X-ray, there was also a better integration of rabbit femur bone in groups with the use of BHA or BHA-GEN bone implant. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of a natural BHA implant can accelerate the process of bone repair in the fracture of rabbit femur. In addition, BHA implants were compatible as a matrix for supporting the bone cell growth.

Effects of Hole Diameter on Torsional Mechanical Properties of the Rabbit Femur

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of three clinically applicable screw hole diameters on rabbit femoral torsional structural properties. Sample Eighteen pairs of skeletally mature New Zealand White rabbit femora (36 bones). Materials and Methods Femora with a bicortical hole at mid-diaphysis from one of the 3-drill bit sizes, 1.1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm, and intact bones were studied. Each bone was bi-axially loaded in a servo-hydraulic load frame with the bone positioned so the neutral axis of torsion was aligned with the centre of the bone diaphysis. Axial compression to 35% body weight was applied to represent compression at stance, and rapid external torsion was applied to failure. Torque and angular deformation data were plotted for each test, with pre-yield and post-yield stiffnesses derived. Yield and failure torques and angles were determined, along with calculated yield, failure and post-yield energies. Results Failure torque was reduced compared with that of intact bone; weakened by 37% in 1.1-mm hole models, 53% in 1.5-mm hole models and 65% in 2.0-mm hole models. The torque angular deformation curves lacked plastic deformation. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance This study demonstrates the unique, brittle biomechanics of rabbit bone. Based on data from other species that strength loss of no more than 50% is acceptable when placing orthopaedic implants, no defect greater than 1.1 mm (15% bone diameter) is recommended in rabbit femora.