Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of tissue-engineered constructs on repair of large segmental bone defects in goats. METHODS: Allogenic demineralized bone matrix (aDBM) was seeded with autologous marrow stromal cells (aMSC) for seven days to construct DBM-MSC grafts prior to implantation. 24 goats were randomly divided into three groups (eight in each). In each group, 3 cm diaphyseal femoral defects were created unilaterally, and subsequently filled with the DBM-MSC grafts, DBM alone and an untreated control, respectively. Radiological analysis and biomechanical evaluation were performed at 12 and 24 weeks after operation. RESULTS: Obvious increases in radiological scoring and biomechanical strength were found in the DBM-MSC group when compared to the DBM group. X-ray examination showed excellent bone healing in the DBM-MSC group, whereas only partial bone repair was seen in the DBM group, and no healing in untreated controls. Histologically, a tendency to bone regeneration and remodeling was far more obvious for the DBM-MSC group than the DBM only and untreated controls. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly suggest that transplantation of bone MSC within a DBM could have advantages for the bone repair of large segmental defects.