Marc Long

Bone-graft substitutes.

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Confined Compression of Bone Substitute Granules

This study investigated the strength of several bone graft substitute (BGS) granular products under compression in a confined fixture characteristic of packing into a contained surgical bone defect. The compressive strength values for columns of granules made of tricalcium phosphate (TCP, dense), calcium carbonate / hydroxyapatite (CC/HA, porous) and ultraporous TCP (TCPu, ultra porous) were 2063.8 ±177.6N, 115.3 ±7.4N, and 40.5 ±8.3, respectively. As a result of their higher strength, the TCP granules did not appreciably reduce in volume after packing. The CC/HA and TCPu granules appreciably reduced in volume after packing, with the final packed volumes being 68% and 41%, respectively, of their original volumes. Based on these results the TCP synthetic bone substitute granules are better able to resist crushing and retain their original volume and osteoconductive capacity during packing in a bone defect than the other BGS granules tested in this study. These properties give the dense granules with a six-arm, interlocking shape superior robustness during handling and implantation compared to other BGS scaffolds produced by porous granules, morsels or blocks, while producing a comparable osteoconductive, resorbable scaffold with interconnected porosity.

Correlating In-Vitro Dissolution Measurement Methods Used with Bone Void Filler Bioceramics

In-vitro dissolution of bone void filler bioceramics (tricalcium phosphat e) was conducted using a novel protocol that measured the gravimetric weight loss of ceramic granules as a function of time until full dissolution in an acidic buffered solution (pH=4.0) was achieved. This study concluded that gravimetric measurements using this novel protocol were comparable to weight loss measurements using spectroscopy (ICP and colorimetric) methods to c haracterize the in-vitro dissolution behavior of bioceramics.