Objective: To study the feasibility of repairing bone defect by combined autologous bone marrow transplantation, cuttebone, and sodium hyaluronate.
Methods: Forty-eight New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. The 10-mm bone defect of the radial shaft animal model was established, with the periosteum remained. Rabbits of Group A were treated by autologous bone marrow transplantation, cuttlebone, and sodium hyaluronate. Those of Group B were treated by autologous bone marrow transplantation and cuttlebone. Rabbits of Group C were implanted with cuttlebone and sodium hyaluronate. And rabbits of Group D were taken as the blank control. There were twelve rabbits in each group. All rabbits were sacrificed, and the general histological examination, X-ray test, the pathohistological observation and scoring, the new born formation area measurement were performed at 2-week, 4-week, 8-week, and 12-week after transplantation respectively. The capacities for bone transplantation and defect repairing were compared and analyzed as well.
Results: The bone defect of Group A was completely repaired at week 12. The comprehensive indices at each time point were superior to those of the rest groups, showing statistical significance (P<0.05). The bone repair in Group B and Group C were somewhat poor, with the repairing effect inferior to that of Group A. The bone repairing was better in Group B than in Group C. Most portion of the bone defect in Group D was filled with fibrous tissue and muscular tissue, with little bone repairing.
Conclusions: The combined autologous bone marrow transplantation, cuttlebone, and sodium hyaluronate showed obviously synergistically bone forming capacities. It could be taken as a substitute material for transplantation.