Calcium phosphate cements for bone augmentation through vertebroplasty
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
Traditional procedures to stabilise the spine following fracture involve highly invasive surgery to attach instrumentation, in many cases via two separate approaches, to the posterior and/or anterior of the spine. High risks are associated with this procedure because the patient has often suffered multiple injuries and the surgery is in close proximity to the spinal cord and major blood vessels. Recently, a new technique called 'vertebroplasty' has been investigated as an alternative treatment for spinal burst fractures, which are caused by high energy impacts. Using this procedure, bone cement is injected into the fractured vertebra to stabilise the segment without the need for major invasive surgery. Although this technique shows potential, the cements used have yet to be optimised for the treatment of burst fractures. Since this type of injury most commonly occurs in younger patients, there is potential for bony regrowth following the fracture. Therefore, it is proposed that materials that support bone growth, such as calcium phosphate (CaP), will provide a better means of fixation. The aim of this study is to investigate and optimise the use of CaP cements for the primary fixation of burst fractures. The study will combine the expertise in cement development and biological evaluation at Queen's University Belfast with that in spinal modelling at the University of Leeds.The project will involve determining the optimum properties for the cements across a range of patients using computational techniques. These properties will be realised through novel material formulation and processing. The long term success of the cements will then be assessed using in vivo and in vitro testing.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Ruth Wilcox (Principal Investigator) | |
David Barton (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Zhao Y
(2010)
Modelling cement augmentation: a comparative experimental and finite element study at the continuum level.
in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine
Description | A new computer modelling technique was developed and validated against experimental tests to simulate the mechanical behaviour of spinal vertebrae after fracture. The model was used to evaluate the 'vertebroplasty' technique where cement is injected into damaged bone to stabilise the fracture. It was found that the surgical technique (i.e. the volume of cement injected) was more critical than the properties of the cements, suggesting that the flow properties of the cement are more important than their final stiffness upon setting. |
Exploitation Route | The experimental and computational methods developed can be applied to evaluate a range of materials for vertebroplasty and used by industry as part of pre-clinical testing and optimisation processes. The methods also have applications as research tools to investigate other clinical interventions such as subchondroplasty in the knee. |
Sectors | Healthcare |
Description | Methodologies were developed to evaluate the vertebroplasty procedure which are now being adopted by industry. These methods have the potential to enable improved materials to be developed an tested prior to clinical use. |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Sector | Healthcare |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | British Orthopaedic Association Latta Fellowship |
Amount | £400,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | GRA/01/10/01 |
Organisation | British Orthopaedic Association |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2009 |
End | 09/2014 |
Description | EPSRC Challenging Engineering |
Amount | £1,062,951 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/F010575/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2008 |
End | 04/2013 |
Description | ERC Starting grant |
Amount | € 1,500,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 12/2012 |
End | 11/2017 |
Description | ULTRASPINE: Ultrasound-Enabled Minimally Invasive Disc Replacement |
Amount | £991,843 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K020757/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2013 |
End | 03/2018 |
Description | Local engagement activities |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Stands always very popular with large numbers of delegates attending and requests to hold follow-on activities with schools and exhibit at future events. Extremely positive feedback from attendees, teachers and parents, leading to increasing requests to provide exhibits for other events |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |