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Bioactive glass granules: a suitable bone substitute material in the operative treatment of depressed lateral tibial plateau fractures: a prospective, randomized 1 year follow-up study

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine volume 22, pages 1073–1080 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of this study was to compare bioactive glass and autogenous bone as a bone substitute material in tibial plateau fractures. We designed a prospective, randomized study consisting of 25 consecutive operatively treated patients with depressed unilateral tibial comminuted plateau fracture (AO classification 41 B2 and B3).14 patients (7 females, 7 males, mean age 57 years, range 25–82) were randomized in the bioglass group (BG) and 11 patients (6 females, 5 males, mean age 50 years, range 31–82) served as autogenous bone control group (AB). Clinical examination of the patients was performed at 3 and 12 months, patients’ subjective and functional results were evaluated at 12 months. Radiological analysis was performed preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and at 3 and 12 months. The postoperative redepression for both studied groups was 1 mm until 3 months and remained unchanged at 12 months. No differences were identified in the subjective evaluation, functional tests and clinical examination between the two groups during 1 year follow-up. We conclude that bioactive glass granules can be clinically used as filler material instead of autogenous bone in the lateral tibial plateau compression fractures.

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Acknowledgments

Sincere thanks to Biostatistician Hans Helenius, MSc., Head of the Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, for his valuable help in organizing the statistical analysis of the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Clinic Mehiläinen, Turku, Finland

    Jouni T. Heikkilä

  2. Department of Traumatology, Turku University Hospital, P.O. Box 28, 20701, Turku, Finland

    Juha Kukkonen, Allan J. Aho & Susanna Moisander

  3. Medical Imaging Centre of Southwest Finland, Salo District Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Timo Kyyrönen

  4. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Timo Kyyrönen & Kimmo Mattila

  5. Medical Imaging Centre of Southwest Finland, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Kimmo Mattila

Authors
  1. Jouni T. Heikkilä
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  2. Juha Kukkonen
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Correspondence to Juha Kukkonen.

Additional information

Paper selected for publication from the 23rd European Conference on Biomaterials, Tampere, Finland, September 2010.

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Heikkilä, J.T., Kukkonen, J., Aho, A.J. et al. Bioactive glass granules: a suitable bone substitute material in the operative treatment of depressed lateral tibial plateau fractures: a prospective, randomized 1 year follow-up study. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 22, 1073–1080 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-011-4272-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-011-4272-0

Keywords

  • Iliac Crest
  • Bioactive Glass
  • Plain Film
  • Calcium Phosphate Cement
  • Hydroxylapatite