Influence of Absorbable Calcium Sulfate-Based Bone Substitute Materials on Human Haemostasis—In Vitro Biological Behavior of Antibiotic Loaded Implants

Calcium sulfate (CS) formulations are frequently implanted as antibiotically impregnated bone substitutes in orthopedic and trauma surgery to prevent or treat bone infections. Calcium ions have been discussed as candidates to accelerate blood coagulation. The goal of this study is to evaluate substance-specific influences of CS formulations on blood coagulation. Specific ELISAs were conducted to determine markers of activated blood coagulation after incubation of human blood with CS beads. Additionally, wettability with freshly drawn human blood was measured. Three different types of CS bone substitute beads were compared (CS dihydrate with tripalmitin, containing Gentamicin (Herafill(®)-G: Group A) or Vancomycin (CaSO(4)-V: Group B); and a CS hemihydrate with Tobramycin (Osteoset(®): Group C)). Examinations were performed by ELISA assays for F(1+2), FXIIa and C3a. Our results prove that none of the CS preparations accelerated single specific assays for activated coagulation markers. This allows the conclusion that neither Herafill(®)-G (CaSO(4)-G) nor CaSO(4)-V alter haemostasis negatively. Blood samples incubated with Osteoset(®) display an elevated F(1+2)-activity. The addition of tripalmitin in Herafill(®)-G shifts the original into a significantly hydrophobic formulation. This was additionally proven by contact angle examination of the three substances with freshly drawn human blood, showing that acceleration of plasmatic coagulation is hindered by lipids and induced by surface effects caused by presence of rapidly soluble calcium ions in the Osteoset(®) preparation.