Collagen/β-TCP composite as a bone-graft substitute for posterior spinal fusion in rabbit model: a comparison study

Biomed Mater. 2019 May 17;14(4):045009. doi: 10.1088/1748-605X/ab1caf.

Abstract

β-TCP bioceramic, as a kind of biocompatible and biodegradable artificial bone scaffolds, is increasingly used to supplement lamina autografts when performing instrumented or non-instrumented spinal fusion, clinically, although solid fusion is not always achieved. The addition of collagen to β-TCP appears to be a potential strategy to improve bone regeneration, thereby enhancing the rate of spinal fusion. This study aimed to compare the fusion in collagen/β-TCP composite, β-TCP and autologous bone in a posterior spinal fusion model. The fusion grade evaluated radiography was greater in the collagen/β-TCP group than in the β-TCP group (p < 0.05). Stiffness and yield strength of the fused segments in collagen/β-TCP group were comparable to that in autogenous bone group. Histological analysis revealed that the proportion of new bone formation in collagen/β-TCP group were significantly greater than in β-TCP group (p < 0.05). In addition, bone deposition rate in the collagen/β-TCP group was greater than in the β-TCP group (p < 0.05) and comparable to that in the autogenous bone group. We therefore concluded that collagen/β-TCP is superior to β-TCP alone in facilitating posterior spinal fusion. The addition of collagen to β-TCP represents a simple strategy that couples the osteogenic effect, providing a promising alternative to autologous bone in the clinical treatment of spinal disorders.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Regeneration
  • Bone Substitutes / therapeutic use*
  • Bone Transplantation
  • Calcium Phosphates / chemistry*
  • Collagen / chemistry*
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Osseointegration
  • Osteogenesis
  • Rabbits
  • Spinal Fusion / instrumentation
  • Spinal Fusion / methods*
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • X-Ray Microtomography

Substances

  • Bone Substitutes
  • Calcium Phosphates
  • beta-tricalcium phosphate
  • Collagen