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Elastomeric enriched biodegradable polyurethane sponges for critical bone defects: a successful case study reducing donor site morbidity

  • Clinical Applications of Biomaterials
  • Original Research
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Abstract

Bone substitutes have been a critical issue as the natural source can seldom provide enough bone to support full healing. No bone substitute complies with all necessary functions and characteristics that an autograft does. Polyurethane sponges have been used as a surgical alternative to cancellous bone grafts for critical bone defect donor sites. Critical bone defects were created on the tibial tuberosity and iliac crest using an ovine model. In group I (control-untreated), no bone regeneration was observed in any animal. In group II (defects left empty but covered with a microporous polymeric membrane), the new bone bridged the top ends in all animals. In groups III and IV, bone defects were implanted with polyurethane scaffolds modified with biologically active compounds, and bone regeneration was more efficient than in group II. In groups III and IV there were higher values of bone regeneration specific parameters used for evaluation (P < 0.05) although the comparison between these groups was not possible. The results obtained in this study suggest that biodegradable polyurethane substitutes modified with biologically active substances may offer an alternative to bone graft, reducing donor site morbidity associated with autogenous cancellous bone harvesting.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank AO-ASIF for providing the needed consumables, namely India ink, calcein green and xylenol orange. We are grateful for the pertinent comments and fruitful discussion with all people involved. The participation of the Faculty of Medicine—University of Coimbra (Fernando Guerra), Oncology Portuguese Institute—IPO (Maria de Lurdes Orvalho), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine—University of Lisbon (António Ferreira e Sandra de Jesus) and Institute of Biomedical Technology—ITB (Isaura Geraldo) and Katarzyna Gorna is deeply acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mediterranean Agricultural and Environmental Science (ICAAM); School of Science and Technology (ECT), University of Évora, Évora, Portugal

    Catarina Lavrador & Alfredo Pereira

  2. Institute of National Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV), Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal

    Ramiro Mascarenhas

  3. Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Lisbon, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal

    Paulo Coelho

  4. Laboratório de Tecidos Duros - Area of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Av. Bissaya Barreto, Blocos de Celas, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal

    Cláudia Brites

  5. PolyBiomat Consulting, Zielona Gora, Poland

    Sylwester Gogolewski

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  1. Catarina Lavrador
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  2. Ramiro Mascarenhas
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Correspondence to Catarina Lavrador.

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Lavrador, C., Mascarenhas, R., Coelho, P. et al. Elastomeric enriched biodegradable polyurethane sponges for critical bone defects: a successful case study reducing donor site morbidity. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 27, 61 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-016-5667-8

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