Repair of large bone defect by transplanting xenografts implanted with autovessels

This paper reports on the role of autovessels implanted into an organic xenograft (AX) from the vertebrae of pigs in repairing fibular defect (2 cm long) in rabbits. The incorporation rate and mechanical strength of AX implanted with autovessels (AXV) and AX with combined autologous red marrow and autovessels implanted (AXMV) were determined at 2-week intervals up to 12 weeks after operation by roentgenograms, histological investigations and mechanical strength measurement. The results of AXV and AXMV were compared with those of AX impregnated with autologous red marrow (AXM), simple AX and xenografts treated with alcohol (XTA). The results indicated that the incorporation rates of AXV and AXMV were higher than those of AXM and AX (90.9% and 88.9% vs 66.7% and 62.5%, respectively). In contrast, XTA showed no sign of bone incorporation at 12 weeks after operation.