Prefabrication of vascularized bone flap induced by recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2)

An experimental model for the prefabrication of a vascularized bone flap was developed in this study. To form vascularized bone in the desired configuration and to increase the survival rate of the grafted bone, a muscle vascularized pedicle (MVP) was transformed into vascularized bone by the inducer recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2). The muscle flap (8 x 8 mm) raised on saphenous vessels in the rat thigh was sandwiched between same-size collagen (Terudermis) sheets in the presence or absence of impregnated 25 microg of rhBMP-2 for the experimental group and the control group, respectively. The flaps were harvested 1, 2 and 3 weeks postoperatively. Bone transformation was detected by gross examination, radiology, and histologic testing. No evidence of muscle tissue transformation was found in control flaps, whereas all of the experimental flaps produced new bone. Saphenous vessels were observed to supply the new bone upon harvesting, and the newly formed vascularized bone showed good configuration with shape of the Terudermis sheet. This study indicates that this model of effective bone reconstruction could be potentially applied in a therapeutic setting.