T. Turner, R. Urban, S. Gitelis
Oct 1, 2001
Citations
2
Influential Citations
115
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
Abstract
For more than a decade, the radiographic and histologic appearance of a refined calcium sulfate has been studied in various experimental animal models in our laboratory and in clinical applications. This report summarizes our institution’s experience with calcium sulfate as a synthetic bone graft1, a graft expander (the synergistic combination of calcium sulfate with demineralized bone matrix)2-4, and a method for local delivery of antibiotics5-8. Historically, orthopaedic usage of calcium sulfate was popularized by Peltier. Clinically, we have used calcium sulfate to treat numerous osseous lesions and conditions occurring in the axial and appendicular skeleton, including a variety of benign lesions of bone, osseous defects following implant removal, corrective osteotomy sites, spinal fusion sites, graft sites, fracture defects, and osteomyelitic lesions. Both our research studies and clinical experience have shown consistent osteoconduction, excellent biocompatibility, and complete resorption of calcium sulfate, which was replaced by newly formed bone that ultimately remodeled to be comparable with autogenous bone. The scientific basis for the use of calcium sulfate, the typical radiographic and histologic progression of the implanted material, and the indications and expectations for clinical use are illustrated. Contributions from orthopaedic surgeons from several subspecialties demonstrate the use of calcium sulfate in various applications and anatomic sites. ### Research Synthetic bone-graft materials are of clinical interest because of the morbidity, potential for disease transmission, and procurement issues associated with autografts and allografts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate healing after the use of calcium sulfate as a synthetic bone graft compared with spontaneous healing with no graft material and healing after use of autogenous bone graft in a large medullary defect model1. ### Methods Graft materials: The grafts consisted of either circular 4.7 3-mm tablets of calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4) or autogenous cancellous …