Reconstruction of comminuted long-bone fracture using CF/CPC scaffolds manufactured by rapid prototyping

BACKGROUND: Stabilization and bone healing of fractures in weight-bearing long bones are challenging. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a scaffold composed of chitosan fiber and calcium phosphate ceramics (CF/CPC scaffold) on stability and fracture repair in weight-bearing long bones. MATERIAL/METHODS: Comminuted fractures of paired radiuses were created in 36 healthy, mature dogs. The left radius of each dog was classified in the experimental group and treated with CF/CPC scaffold, and the right one was not filled, and was used as a blank control. Of the 12 animals in each group that were killed at week 4, 8, and 12 after the operation, 6 were used for histological analysis, and the other 6 used were for biomechanical studies. Both radiuses from each animal were dissected free and stored for these analyses. All the animals underwent X-ray radiograph pre- and post-operatively. Computer-aided rapid-prototyping technologies were adopted for the fabrication of three-dimensional scaffolds with precise geometric control. RESULTS: X-ray showed that the bone fracture area in the experimental group was filled with callus at week 12 after surgery. Histological examination detected slow resorption of the cement and new bone formation since week 4. At week 12, the scaffold material partially degraded and was still present in all specimens. Mechanical testing revealed that the failure strength of the radiuses treated with CF/CPC scaffolds was about 3 times that of the radiuses without implanted scaffolds. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of using CF/CPC scaffold in treating comminuted weight-bearing long bone fractures is satisfactory.