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Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate and Platelet-rich Plasma Enhanced Bone Healing in Distraction Osteogenesis of the Tibia

  • Symposium: 2013 Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Background

During lower limb lengthening, poor bone regeneration is a devastating complication. Several local or systemic applications have been used to promote osteogenesis, and biologic stimulations are gaining attention, but their utility has not been proven in this setting.

Questions/purposes

In patients undergoing bilateral tibial lengthening, we compared those receiving an osteotomy site injection of autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) plus platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with those not receiving such an injection in terms of external fixator index (time in external fixation divided by amount of lengthening), full weightbearing index (time until a patient was permitted to do full weightbearing divided by amount of lengthening), four cortical healing indexes (time until each cortical union divided by amount of lengthening), and callus shape and type.

Methods

Twenty-two patients (44 tibias) undergoing bilateral tibial lengthening enrolled in this randomized trial. Two patients were excluded, one due to insufficient radiographic evaluation and one who was lost to followup, leaving 20 patients (40 segments) for inclusion. Ten patients (20 segments) received BMAC combined with PRP injection (treatment group) and 10 patients (20 segments) received no injection (control group). All patients underwent stature lengthening for familial short stature with the lengthening over nail technique. Autologous BMAC combined with PRP was injected at the tibial osteotomy site at the end of the index surgery. Mean distraction rates were similar between groups (0.75 mm/day in the treatment group versus 0.72 mm/day in the control group; p = 0.24). Full weightbearing was permitted when we observed radiographic evidence of healing at two cortices; this assessment was made by the surgeon who was blinded to the treatment each patient received. Minimum followup was 24 months (mean, 28 months; range, 24–34 months).

Results

There was no difference in mean external fixator index between groups. However, mean cortical healing indexes (anterior/posterior/medial/lateral) were 1.14/0.81/0.96/0.88 months/cm in the treatment group and 1.47/1.26/1.42/1.22 months/cm in the control group (all p < 0.001), showing faster healing in the treatment group at each cortex. Full weightbearing was permitted earlier in the treatment group than in the control group (index: 0.99 months/cm and 1.38 months/cm, respectively, p < 0.001). Callus shape and type were not different between groups.

Conclusions

Autologous BMAC combined with PRP injection at the osteotomy site helped improve bone healing in distraction osteogenesis of the tibia, although the effect size was small.

Level of Evidence

Level I, therapeutic study. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Hae Ryong Song for his valuable comments on human tibial lengthening, Jung Ho Park, our physical therapist, for his enthusiastic and cooperative work for our patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Severance Hospital, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, 134 Sinchondong, CPO Box 8044, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Dong Hoon Lee MD, PhD

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, 351 Yatap-dong, Bundang-gu, Sung-nam, Kyungki-do, Republic of Korea

    Keun Jung Ryu MD, Jin Woo Kim MD, Kyung Chung Kang MD, PhD & Young Rak Choi MD

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  1. Dong Hoon Lee MD, PhD
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  2. Keun Jung Ryu MD
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Correspondence to Dong Hoon Lee MD, PhD.

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Lee, D.H., Ryu, K.J., Kim, J.W. et al. Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate and Platelet-rich Plasma Enhanced Bone Healing in Distraction Osteogenesis of the Tibia. Clin Orthop Relat Res 472, 3789–3797 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-014-3548-3

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