Cleft Alveolus Reconstruction Using a Three-Dimensional Printed Bioresorbable Scaffold With Human Bone Marrow Cells

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomaterials Science
• Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

• Bone tissue engineering using scaffolds is explored for cleft lip and palate repair.
• Clinical use of patient-specific three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds remains limited.
• Alveolar cleft reconstruction presents significant challenges in bone regeneration.

Observation:

• A clinical case utilized a patient-specific 3D-printed bioresorbable scaffold.
• Bone marrow stromal cells were harvested from the iliac crest during surgery.
• The scaffold was seeded with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Findings:

• At 6 months post-transplantation, regenerated bone volume reached approximately 45% of the defect volume.
• The bone mineral density of regenerated bone was about 75% of the surrounding native bone.
• Hounsfield unit values indicated bone quality intermediate between cancellous and cortical bone.

Implications:

• Patient-specific 3D-printed polycaprolactone scaffolds offer a viable solution for alveolar cleft reconstruction.
• This approach demonstrates potential for treating other types of bony defects.
• Combining 3D printing, stem cells, and bioresorbable materials advances bone defect repair strategies.