Effect of beta-tricalcium phosphate in surgically created subchondral bone defects in male horses.

The research tests the efficiency of beta-Tricalcium phosphate (TCP) as a synthetic bone grafting material implemented in surgically created defects in horses. Its impact and bone growth activity were tested over different time intervals and compared with the activity of a mixture of autogenous cancellous bone and TCP, and a control group with no fill.

Research Methodology

• The study was conducted on sixteen horses which were randomly divided into four groups, each containing four horses.
• Surgical defects were created in the weight-bearing surface of both third metacarpal bones of each horse, as well as in the left third metatarsal bone.
• Three different treatments were applied: the defect in the left metacarpal bone was filled with TCP, the right one was filled with a mixture of 50% autogenous cancellous bone (a type of bone obtained from the same individual) and 50% TCP, and the defect in the third metatarsal bone wasn’t filled to serve as a control.

Data Collection and Evaluation

• Nuclear imaging and radiographic evaluations were performed on surgical sites at different post-surgical week intervals (PSW) based on the group of horses. Group-I was assessed at PSW 4 and 13, whereas groups-II, -III, and -IV were assessed at PSW 26, 39, and 52 respectively.
• Post-evaluation, horses were euthanized to harvest specimens for histologic evaluation.

Results and Comparisons

• The highest activity at defect sites was observed in the horses from group-I at the 4th post-surgical week.
• The activity counts in the limbs of group-I horses at PSW 13 and those in the limbs of group-II horses at PSW 26 were not considerably different.
• Activity in limbs of groups-III and -IV horses at PSW 39 and 52, was less than that of groups I and II.
• However, there was no noticeable difference in the activity counts in limbs that were implanted with either TCP alone or the TCP:ACB mixture.