Background

One of the few treatment modalities for large bone defects after treatment of fracture related infection is the induced membrane technique (IMT), however, prior to developing new interventions that treat infection and support bone healing, a suitable animal model is required. 

 

Images A, B and C show intraoperative situation after creating of the 5mm defect, placement of the PMMA spacer into the defect and insertion of the TCP bone void filler in the defect. Image D show radiographic signs of healing 13 and 10 weeks. Image E and F show representative histological sections of E. empty defect and F. TCP filled defect.

 

Goal

To develop a rabbit humerus defect model that includes IMT and bone grafting due to infection.

 

Results

he first step was to transform our well-established model of humeral osteotomy in rabbits into a 5 mm defect model. The defect was filled with a PMMA spacer (Figure) to induce a membrane. After three weeks, the PMMA spacer was removed and exchanged for either a bone void filler (Tricalciumphosphate, TCP) or the defect was left empty. In total 11 rabbits were operated successfully suggesting the model is functional and bone healing is ongoing in the defect-filled group as well as in the empty defect group. In 2020 and 2021, the model has been modified to introduce the local infection and analyses of the histological results is ongoing. 

  • Publication
    Siverino C, Vanvelk N, Nehrbass D, Mischler D, Richards RG, Morgenstern M, Zeiter S, Arens D, Moriarty TF. Comparative bone healing with induced membrane technique (IMT) versus empty defects in septic and aseptic conditions in a novel rabbit humerus model. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2023;24(1):886. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-023-07031-3
     
  • Presentation

    Siverino C, Arens D, Zeiter S, Richards RG, Moriarty TF. Bone defect healing using the induced-membrane technique after chronically infected non-union in a novel rabbit model.  2022 ICORS (oral) 

    Siverino C, Arens D, Zeiter S, Richards RG, Moriarty TF. Bone defect healing using the induced-membrane technique after chronically infected non-union in a novel rabbit model. 2023 ORS (poster)

     

     

     
  • Partner

    Mario Morgenstern (MD), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland

    Willem-Jan Metsemakers (Prof), University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium

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