Hyperelastic bone, a new synthetic material readily produced by 3D-printing could offer a powerful new tool for reconstructing skull defects, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Defects of the skull and facial bones can pose difficult challenges for plastic and reconstructive surgeons.
Paediatric Plastic Surgery
A deforming birth defect has a devastating psychological impact upon the child''s parents, and has the potential for life-long impact upon the physical, psychological and socio-economic well-being of the child.
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‘3D-printed hyperelastic bone could be the future of reconstructive surgery as the new material may help in the growth and regeneration of new bone.’
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The experimental material accelerates bone regeneration across skull defects in rats, according to initial results by Ramille N. Shah, Ph.D., and colleagues of Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Health, Chicago.
The researchers write, "Hyperelastic bone has significant potential to be translated to craniofacial reconstructive surgery, where the need for cost-effective bone replacement grafts is enormous."
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Promising New 3D-Printed Bone Replacement for Skull Reconstruction
The researchers report initial experiments with hyperelastic bone in rats with surgically created defects of the top of the skull. The surgically created defects were of a "critical size" unlikely to heal on their own - similar to those seen in patients who have undergone surgery for brain tumors.
Hyperelastic bone is a "3D-printed synthetic scaffold," consisting mainly of bone mineral (hydroxyapatite) plus a widely used, biocompatible material (polyglycolic acid). Hyperelastic bone consists of an intricate latticework, designed to support the growth and regeneration of new bone. It[TO1] can be quickly and inexpensively produced using current 3D printing hardware platforms and is malleable enough to be press-fit or cut into shape during surgery.
In the experiments, some cranial defects were reconstructed using hyperelastic bone and others using the animal's own (autologous) bone. Autologous bone is the preferred material for reconstructing bone defects, but can be difficult to obtain - requiring bone to be taken from a "donor site" elsewhere in the body - and sometimes isn't available at all. In other animals, reconstruction was performed using a scaffold made of polyglycolic acid only, without bone mineral.
The 3D-printed hyperelastic bone provided good bone regeneration. On follow-up CT scans, the hyperelastic bone was about 74 percent effective after eight weeks and 65 percent at 12 weeks, compared to autologous bone. In contrast, defects treated with the polyglycolic acid scaffold showed little new bone formation.
Microscopic examination showed that the hyperelastic bone scaffold was gradually surrounded first by fibrous tissue, then by new bone cells. Over time, the scaffold would be gradually replaced completely by new bone, incorporating the implanted bone mineral.
"Hyperelastic bone has significant potential to be translated to craniofacial reconstructive surgery, where the need for cost-effective bone replacement grafts is enormous," Dr. Shah and colleagues conclude. With further development, they believe this 3D-printed material may provide a valuable alternative to the autologous bone and commercially available bone substitutes.
"Our study underscores the promising translational potential of this novel strategy for tissue engineering applications, particularly bone regeneration," the researchers add. They emphasize that further experimental studies will be needed to confirm the use of hyperelastic bone for specific types of craniofacial reconstruction.
Source: Eurekalert
New Plastic Surgery Statistics Unveil the Latest Trends in Body Enhancement
Plastic surgery is becoming more popular and mainstream in recent years. A new study shows that nearly a quarter million more cosmetic procedures were performed in 2018 than the previous year.
Advertisement
Promising New 3D-Printed Bone Replacement for Skull Reconstruction
The researchers report initial experiments with hyperelastic bone in rats with surgically created defects of the top of the skull. The surgically created defects were of a "critical size" unlikely to heal on their own - similar to those seen in patients who have undergone surgery for brain tumors.
Hyperelastic bone is a "3D-printed synthetic scaffold," consisting mainly of bone mineral (hydroxyapatite) plus a widely used, biocompatible material (polyglycolic acid). Hyperelastic bone consists of an intricate latticework, designed to support the growth and regeneration of new bone. It[TO1] can be quickly and inexpensively produced using current 3D printing hardware platforms and is malleable enough to be press-fit or cut into shape during surgery.
In the experiments, some cranial defects were reconstructed using hyperelastic bone and others using the animal's own (autologous) bone. Autologous bone is the preferred material for reconstructing bone defects, but can be difficult to obtain - requiring bone to be taken from a "donor site" elsewhere in the body - and sometimes isn't available at all. In other animals, reconstruction was performed using a scaffold made of polyglycolic acid only, without bone mineral.
The 3D-printed hyperelastic bone provided good bone regeneration. On follow-up CT scans, the hyperelastic bone was about 74 percent effective after eight weeks and 65 percent at 12 weeks, compared to autologous bone. In contrast, defects treated with the polyglycolic acid scaffold showed little new bone formation.
Microscopic examination showed that the hyperelastic bone scaffold was gradually surrounded first by fibrous tissue, then by new bone cells. Over time, the scaffold would be gradually replaced completely by new bone, incorporating the implanted bone mineral.
"Hyperelastic bone has significant potential to be translated to craniofacial reconstructive surgery, where the need for cost-effective bone replacement grafts is enormous," Dr. Shah and colleagues conclude. With further development, they believe this 3D-printed material may provide a valuable alternative to the autologous bone and commercially available bone substitutes.
"Our study underscores the promising translational potential of this novel strategy for tissue engineering applications, particularly bone regeneration," the researchers add. They emphasize that further experimental studies will be needed to confirm the use of hyperelastic bone for specific types of craniofacial reconstruction.
Source: Eurekalert
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