Indian Journal of Animal Research

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Full Research Article

Evaluation of β-tricalcium Phosphate (β-TCP) and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Combination for Fracture Healing in Dogs Stabilized with Intramedullary Pinning

N. Sachin Kumar1, Neeraj Arora1, Deepak Kumar Tiwari1,*, Sandeep Saharan2, Satbir Sharma2, Anju Poonia1, Sandeep Kumar3
1Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar-125 004, Haryana, India.
2Department of Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar-125 004, Haryana, India.
3Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar-125 004, Haryana, India.

ABSTRACT

Background: The use of synthetic bone substitute,b-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) as an osteo-conductive material and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as an osteo-inductive material is the alternate strategies for replenishing bone loss. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the bone healing efficacy of β-TCP and PRP combination in dogs with long bone fracture repaired with threaded intramedullary pinning.

Methods: Fifteen dogs were selected, which were allotted to two groups irrespective of age, breed and sex. In six dogs of Group I intramedullary pinning was performed, while in nine dogs of Group II β-TCP and PRP was applied at fracture site after stabilising with intramedullary pin. Clinical and radiographic examinations were conducted preoperatively and postoperatively on 15th, 30th and 60th day.

Result: The mean weight bearing and radiographic union scores were better in group II animals as compared to group I at different time intervals. The present findings suggest that β-TCP and PRP effectively enhances the bone healing in dogs with long bone fracture.

INTRODUCTION

Fracture is defined as the loss of continuity in the bone and/or cartilage and is the most frequent orthopaedic disorder encountered in small animal practice (Prabhukumar et al., 2019). The ultimate goal of fracture treatment is to restore the function of the affected limb quickly with least complications (Shahar, 2000; Minar et al., 2013). The gap between the fracture ends has to be filled through bone graft or its substitute, otherwise may often lead to delayed union, malunion, non-union or rounding of fracture ends (Ruhaimi, 2000; Lu et al., 2021). Besides analogous bone grafts, the use of synthetic bone substitute, b-tricalcium phosphate (b-TCP) as an osteoconductive material and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as an osteo-inductive material is the alternate strategies for replenishing bone loss. Some authors reported positive effects on use of b-TCP and PRP for fracture healing in their studies (Szponder et al., 2018; Singh et al., 2020) and others lack of positive effects (Plachokova et al., 2006; Rabillard et al., 2009; Lu et al., 2021). Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of b-TCP and PRP for fracture healing in dogs with long bone fracture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was conducted on 15 dogs referred to the department for management of long bone fractures which were randomly allotted to two groups irrespective of age, breed, sex and body weight.


Sterilized β-TCP granules having a particle size of 355-500µ were used at fracture site as an osteoconductive material to fill the bone defect. PRP was prepared according to method suggested by Wang et al. (2014). In the present study, initial mean platelet count of whole blood was 317.11± 23.90 and after PRP preparation the count increased to 902.56±94.48. The affected limb was aseptically prepared as per the standard procedure.
 
Anaesthesia
 
All the animals were fasted overnight and premedicated with intramuscular injection of Atropine Sulphate @ 0.04 mg/kg body weight, pre-emptive analgesia with Inj. Meloxicam @ 0.2 mg/kg body weight and prophylactic antibiotic Inj. Ceftriaxone @ 25 mg/kg body weight prior to surgery. After 5 min, mixture of Inj. xylazine hydrochloride @1mg/kg body weight and Ketamine hydrochloride @ 5 mg/kg body weight was administered intramuscularly. After tracheal intubation anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane at minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of 1.0-3.0 % for the rest of the surgical procedure.
 
Surgical technique
 
In the present study, femur, tibia and humerus were approached for intramedullary pinning as described by Piermattei and Greeley (1979). Once the fracture site was exposed, fracture fragments were elevated using bone hook and secured with bone holding forceps. In both the groups intramedullary end threaded Steinmann pin of sufficient diameter (60-70% of medullary cavity diameter) was inserted through the medullary cavity in a retrograde fashion for femur and humerus and normograde manner for tibia. Moreover, anatomical reduction and the proper pin position was confirmed intra-operatively using C-Arm. In group II, following anatomical reduction and internal fixation, 1 cc of sterile beta-tri calcium phosphate bone graft placed in a sterile petridish and mixed with 0.5 ml of platelet rich plasma was applied using a spatula at the fracture gap and remaining PRP was injected at fracture site. The muscles and skin were closed as per standard protocol.
 
Post-operative care
 
The dogs were administered with inj. Meloxicam @ 0.5 mg/kg body weight, I/M and inj. Ceftriaxone @ 25 mg/kg body weight, I/M for 5 days and modified Robert Jones bandage was applied after the surgery to support the operated limb and advised leash walk for two weeks. Skin sutures were removed after 15 days of surgery.
 
Post-operative evaluation
 
Bone healing was evaluated by clinical and radiographic examinations preoperatively and postoperatively on 15th, 30th and 60th day, postoperatively. Weight bearing while standing and walking was assessed as per the method suggested by Sahu et al., (2017). Radiographic examinations were done to evaluate bone formation scores and bone union score as per Lane and Sandhu (1987) and the stage of bone union was evaluated as per Hammer et al., (1985). Clinical outcome on the basis of functional limb usage was evaluated using classification system adopted by Fox et al., (1995).
 
Statistical analysis
 
The statistical analysis of data was done by one-way-ANOVA with linear repeated measure via SPSS software. All the data values were expressed as Mean ± Standard error of mean (Mean ± S.E.). P-value less than 0.05 considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This investigation was carried out to evaluate the bone healing efficacy of b-TCP and PRP combination in dogs with long bone fracture repaired with threaded intramedullary pinning. The bone formation scores (BFS) in group II was found significantly higher as compared to group I at different time intervals (Table 1). Similarly, the bone union scores (BUS) were non significantly higher in group II as compared to group I (Table 2). Stage of union was achieved earlier in group II as compared to group I (Fig 1). The increase in the mean radiographic scores in group II due to application of osteoconductive material, b-TCP and osteoinductive material, PRP at the fracture site might have led to increase in the bone formation rate. Goel et al., (2013) and Preethi et al., (2021) also reported the osteoconductive abilities of b-TCP which was safe and effective therapeutic option for fracture healing in large osteo-periosteal defects. Addition of PRP to b-TCP enhance healing process, which is suggestive of beneficial effects of growth factors present in the PRP as reported based on effects of hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate (HA/b-TCP) on healing of bone defects in the skull of rabbits (Szponder et al., 2018; El Backly et al., 2014) and by incorporating PRP into osteoconductive material as a source of growth factors, bone production was accelerated by the activation of stem cells and the cellularity within the defects was improved. In contrast to above findings, many authors reported no beneficial effect of PRP and b-TCP on fracture healing in dogs (Rabillard et al., 2009; Ozdemir and Okte, 2012).

Table 1: Bone formation scores at different time intervals in both the groups (Mean±S.E.).



Table 2: Bone union scores at different intervals in both the groups (Mean±S.E.).



Fig 1: Radiographs showing fracture healing in group I (upper row) and II (lower row).



The mean weight bearing score while standing (Table 3) improved gradually over a period of time in both the groups ranging from 0.00 ± 0.00 on day 0 to 2.33 ± 0.33 on day 60th in group I (Fig 2) and 0.00±00 to 2.89 ± 0.12 in group II (Fig 3), respectively. The mean weight bearing scores were better in group II during the entire post-operative period. Moreover, all animals showing non-weight bearing lameness in both the groups on day of presentation. Animals tend to carry the damaged leg off the ground because of pain in the affected fracture area due to inflammation and damage to the surrounding muscles (Gupta, 2015). Significant increase in the weight bearing scores in group II was observed on 15th day as compared to group I. Moreover, all the animals were found touching either the toe or the paw on the ground in group II, whereas in group I, majority of the animals were carrying the limb off the ground. An improvement in the weight bearing score was observed in group I and most of the animals were found touching the toe or placing the paw on the ground on 30th day. Majority of the animals started full weight bearing on the affected limb on 30th day in group II. Animals of both the groups showed full weight bearing on 60th day postoperatively.

Table 3: Weight bearing scores while standing at different time intervals in both the groups (Mean±S.E.).



Fig 2: Post-operative weight bearing on day 15th (A), 30th (B) and 60th (C) in group I.



Fig 3: Post-operative weight bearing on day 15th (A), 30th (B) and 60th (C) in group II.



Similarly, the weight bearing scores while walking (Table 4) was non significantly higher in group II as compared to group I at different intervals.  Similar findings were also observed by Singh et al., (2020). The improvement in the weight bearing scores (while standing and walking) was due to early and optimum fracture healing in dogs of group II as supported by radiographic scores which can be related to local application of b-TCP and PRP at the fracture site. Similar results were observed by Singh et al., (2020) in dogs treated with combination of b-TCP and PRP. This suggests the positive effects of PRP in bone union soft tissue healing surrounding the fracture site. Many authors reported the beneficial effects of PRP on healing of soft tissue trauma (Boyan et al., 2007; Wang et al., 2013).

Table 4: Weight bearing scores while walking at different time intervals in both the groups (Mean±S.E.).



In group I, functional usage of the limb was excellent in one case, good in two, poor in two and fair in one. In group II, excellent in five cases, good in three and fair in one. This finding also coincides with the fact that animals of group II achieved early callus formation and early weight bearing, hence an early return of limb function with full range of motion. Similar findings were observed by Singh et al., (2020).

β-TCP aid in bone healing by regulating osteogenic process like mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts, growth of new blood vessels, the release of angiogenic growth factors, and blood clot formation (Lu et al., 2021). PRP could offer positive outcomes in bone grafting techniques, since it contains various growth factors viz., platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factors (TGF- b1, TGF-b2), insulin like growth factor (IGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epithelial cell growth factor (ECGF). These growth factors promote angiogenesis, stimulate the growth and chemotaxis of chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and mesenchymal cells (Gracia et al., 2012). Osteoblast differentiation, proliferation and metabolic activity are intimately associated with platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) and other proteins secreted by platelets, which activate intracellular signalling pathways for matrix formation and cellular differentiation. Platelet-rich plasma has a major impact on the early inflammatory phase of fracture healing, which includes the formation of a fracture hematoma and the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells produced from the bone marrow (Canbeyli et al., 2018).

CONCLUSION

On the basis of the above findings, it is concluded that the weight bearing scores, radiographic scores and functional usage of limb was better in dogs with long bone fractures treated with intramedullary pinning alongwith β-TCP and PRP. 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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