Calcium phosphate cements for bone augmentation through vertebroplasty
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch Mechanical and Aerospace 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
Publications
Dunne N
(2010)
Performance of calcium deficient hydroxyapatite-polyglycolic acid composites: an in vitro study.
in Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine
O'Hara RM
(2012)
Development of a bovine collagen-apatitic calcium phosphate cement for potential fracture treatment through vertebroplasty.
in Acta biomaterialia
O'Hara RM
(2010)
Optimisation of the mechanical and handling properties of an injectable calcium phosphate cement.
in Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine
Palmer I
(2016)
Biocompatibility of calcium phosphate bone cement with optimized mechanical properties.
in Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials
Palmer I
(2016)
Biocompatibility of calcium phosphate bone cement with optimised mechanical properties: an in vivo study.
in Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine
Tarsuslugil SM
(2013)
Development of calcium phosphate cement for the augmentation of traumatically fractured porcine specimens using vertebroplasty.
in Journal of biomechanics
Tarsuslugil SM
(2014)
Experimental and computational approach investigating burst fracture augmentation using PMMA and calcium phosphate cements.
in Annals of biomedical engineering
Description | Traditional procedures to stabilise the spine following fracture involve highly invasive surgery to attach screws and rods. High risks are associated with these interventions 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 fractures. 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 traumatic fractures. Since this type of injury most commonly occurs in younger patients, there is potential for bony regrowth following the fracture so materials that support this, such as calcium phosphate (CaP), could provide a better means of fixation. The aim of this study was to investigate and optimise the use of CaP cements for the primary fixation of traumatic fractures. The study combined the expertise in cement development and biological evaluation at Queen's University Belfast with that in spinal modelling at the University of Leeds. A computer modelling technique was developed and validated against experimental tests to simulate the mechanical behaviour of the spinal vertebrae after fracture. The model was then used to determine the optimum cement properties. A design of experiments method was used to develop CaP cements with the appropriate properties using novel material formulation and processing. The longer term success of the cements was then assessed using in vivo and in vitro testing. The cements developed showed considerable promise and further work is now necessary to improve methods of injection and move towards clinical translation. |
Exploitation Route | Improved computer modelling tools for bone-implant interfaces Novel calcium phosphate cement formulations with tailorable mechanical properties Methodologies for monitoring injectablility and in vitro degradation on cements Comparator in vivo data |
Sectors | Healthcare |
Description | Findings has supported informed decision making with relevant to development of optimised injectable calcium phosphate cements for spinal repair. PhD students have been trained appropriately for employment in academic and educational support sectors (O'Hara: ?Projects Director at Sentinus; Palmer: Proof of Concept Commercialisation Project) |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Education,Healthcare |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £52,490 (GBP) |
Funding ID | KTS11-11 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Furlong Research Charitable Foundation |
Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 480 |
Organisation | Orthopaedic Research UK |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Furlong Research Charitable Foundation |
Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 480 |
Organisation | Orthopaedic Research UK |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | KTP Programme Office |
Amount | £124,624 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Partnership number: 8179 |
Organisation | Knowledge Transfer Partnerships |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | KTP Programme Office |
Amount | £124,624 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Partnership number: 8179 |
Organisation | Knowledge Transfer Partnerships |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |