Evaluation of β-Tricalcium Phosphate Biomaterial in Femur Fracture Repair in Dogs

Background: Fracture repair is one of most common procedure carried out by veterinary clinicians. Fracture healing most of the time associated with delayed union, non-union and mal-uinon. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical, haemato-biochemical and radiological outcome in patients after implantation of β-tricalcium phosphate as a bone graft substitute to promote the fracture healing.Methods: Eight clinical cases brought to the clinics with femur fracture were divided into two groups viz. A and B, with four animals in each group. Femur fractures were stabilized with intramedullary pinning and β-TCP biomaterial and intramedullary pinning and β-TCP plus autologous bone marrow aspirate (BMA) composite in group A and B respectively. The efficacy of fixation was studied on the basis of clinical evaluation, haemato-biochemical and radiographical parameters on day 0 and on 7th, 15th, 30th, 45th and 60th post-operative day. Result: Excellent weight bearing was noticed in group B. The overall functional outcome in group B was better in comparison to group A animals. Haematological parameters viz. haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total leukocyte count and differential leukocyte count did not differ significantly within and between the groups. The biochemical parameters viz. serum calcium increased significantly (P less than 0.05) on 7th and 15th post-operative day. A significant reduction in serum alkaline phosphatase level observed on successive post-operative days in both groups. Radiographs of fractures treated in both the groups showed good reduction and fracture fixation, early signs of fracture healing in group B than group A animals. The size of callus formation was more in group A than group B. No any graft related complications observed during the study period. The β-tricalcium phosphate facilitated fracture healing and early ambulation of affected limb.