Effect of load on the early incorporation of impacted morsellized allografts

Impacted morsellized bone grafts are clinically successful to restore bony defects after failed total hip arthroplasties. The incorporation process seems to be dependent on the location where the reconstruction is performed, which suggests that load could play a role. In this study, we hypothesised that, as in fracture healing, physiological loading has a stimulatory effect on the process of early bone graft incorporation. To test this hypothesis we created a standardised defect in the distal femur of twelve goats. Allograft bone chips were impacted into the defect and a subcutaneous pressure implant was screwed in. With this implant the graft can be loaded under controlled circumstances. Six goats were subjected to a daily loading regime of 3 MPa, the other six were non-loaded. After five weeks the bone mineral density was measured with peripheral quantitative computer tomography. Thereafter, routine histology and histomorphometry were carried out. Bone mineral density was not affected by load. Histology revealed microscopic evidence of bone graft incorporation, which proceeded in a similar way in both loaded and non-loaded specimens. New bone was formed free in the stroma or on graft remnants after osteoclastic resorption of the graft. Only the area of active incorporating bone graft was higher under load. In conclusion, the formation of a new bony structure was not affected by load after five weeks. However, load resulted in a larger area of active graft incorporation at this early stage. Possibly biological and immunological factors govern the early incorporation process independent of the local loading regime.