EFFICACY OF FIBER-REINFORCED GELATIN NANOHYDROXYAPATITE (nHA) IN HEALING OF FRACTURES WITH SEGMENTAL DEFECTS IN DOGS
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Date
2019-07-04
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES, POOKODE WAYANAD
Abstract
Segmental bone defects occur when there is loss of a part of the bone. This
could result from various causes like resection of bone tumours, removal of infected
bone, correction of malformed bone, revision surgeries, etc., and are difficult to
treat. Correction of segmental bone defects involves the use of bone grafts to fill
the defect. Autografts and allografts are the currently used substitutes. Their
limitations created scope for the development of newer synthetic bone substitutes.
In vitro studies of such substitutes showed good healing of fractures with segmental
bone defects proving that such a graft can be clinically employed for treating
segmental bone defects which may otherwise delay the healing of fracture or result
in non-union. This formed the basis for the present study where a fibre reinforced
ceramic biograft was evaluated for its efficacy to heal segmental bone defects in
fractures of dogs.
The study was conducted in six clinical cases of dogs with fractures,
malunion and non-unions that required resection of bone during surgical repair and
resulted in segmental defects.
Under general anaesthesia, standard surgical approaches were adopted for
the fracture repair and the resultant segmental defect after correction in each case
was filled fiber-reinforced gelatin nanohydroxyapatite composite post fixation with
suitable internal fixation method. Post-operatively, the animals were evaluated for
fracture healing at every two weeks interval from 2nd post-operative week to 8
th
post-operative week. Clinical, orthopaedic and physical examination was carried
out. Radiographical evaluation was performed, physiological parameters were
recorded, and haematology and serum biochemistry were studied.
Lameness scores and weight bearing grades improved in all cases except
one. Radiographical examination showed progressive healing of fracture
throughout the study in all animals except one. The biograft was incorporated into
the native bone and the fracture gap was successfully bridged in all cases except the
one with implant failure, by the end of the study. The internal fixation method was adequate and maintained good apposition and alignment in all cases except the one
in which the implant failed.
It could be concluded from the study that fiber-reinforced gelatin
nanohydroxyapatite composite successfully bridges segmental bone defects and has
good osteoconductive and osteointegrative properties which help fracture healing
in segmental bone defects.