Composite implant composed of hydroxyapatite and bone morphogenetic protein in the healing of a canine ulnar defect

Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been considered as a carrier material for bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of a composite implant of HA and native bovine BMP to heal a 2 cm segmental defect in the canine ulna.

A composite HA+BMP implant was compared with plain HA implants and cortical autografts. The fixation was accomplished with an intramedullary Kirschner wire. The bone union was evaluated by X-rays taken at operation and after 3, 6, 9, 12, 16, 25, 35 weeks and by histology and mechanical torsion tests.

HA implants were not able to produce complete bone union even with BMP. There was some bridging between the implant and the bone in the defects treated with either plain HA or HA+BMP implant, the bridging being slightly more pronounced with HA+BMP. The autografts showed a significantly better capacity to heal the defect. The HA implant did not resorb markedly during the study. There was no significant difference in mechanical strength between the HA and HA+BMP groups.

HA was not an adequate bone substitute material in this study model, and BMP was not able to enhance sufficiently the poor capacity of HA to heal canine ulnar defects.