Author/Authors :
Sutter, Sarah Department of Plastic - Reconstructive - Aesthetic and Hand Surgery - University Hospital Basel - University of Basel - Spitalstrasse - Basel, Switzerland , Todorov, Atanas Department of Plastic - Reconstructive - Aesthetic and Hand Surgery - University Hospital Basel - University of Basel - Spitalstrasse - Basel, Switzerland , Ismail, Tarek Department of Plastic - Reconstructive - Aesthetic and Hand Surgery - University Hospital Basel - University of Basel - Spitalstrasse - Basel, Switzerland , Haumer, Alexander Department of Biomedicine - University Hospital Basel - University of Basel - Hebelstrasse - Basel, Switzerland , Fulco, Ilario Department of Plastic - Reconstructive - Aesthetic and Hand Surgery - University Hospital Basel - University of Basel - Spitalstrasse - Basel, Switzerland , Schulz, Georg Department of Biomedical Engineering - University of Basel - Gewerbestrasse - Allschwil, Switzerland , Scherberich, Arnaud Department of Plastic - Reconstructive - Aesthetic and Hand Surgery - University Hospital Basel - University of Basel - Spitalstrasse - Basel, Switzerland , Kaempfen, Alexandre Department of Plastic - Reconstructive - Aesthetic and Hand Surgery - University Hospital Basel - University of Basel - Spitalstrasse - Basel, Switzerland , Martin, Ivan Department of Biomedicine - University Hospital Basel - University of Basel - Hebelstrasse - Basel, Switzerland , Schaefer, Dirk J Department of Plastic - Reconstructive - Aesthetic and Hand Surgery - University Hospital Basel - University of Basel - Spitalstrasse - Basel, Switzerland
Abstract :
Bone ischemia and necrosis are challenging to treat, requiring investigation of native and engineered bone
revascularisation processes through advanced imaging techniques. This study demonstrates an experimental two-step method
for precise bone and vessel analysis in native bones or vascularised bone grafts using X-ray microtomography (𝜇CT), without
interfering with further histological processing. Methods. Distally ligated epigastric arteries or veins of 6 nude rats were inserted in
central channels of porous hydroxyapatite cylinders and these pedicled grafts were implanted subcutaneously. One week later, the
rats were perfused with ink-gelatin and euthanised and the femurs, tibias, and grafts were explanted. Samples were scanned using
𝜇CT, decalcified, incubated with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) for contrast enhancement, rescanned, and processed histologically.
Results. Contrast-enhanced 𝜇CT displayed the course and branching of native bone vessels. Histologically, both central (−17%) and
epiphyseal vessels (−58%) appeared smaller than in 𝜇CT scans. Hydroxyapatite cylinders were thoroughly vascularised but did not
display bone formation. Grafts with a central artery had more (+58%) and smaller (−52%) vessel branches compared to grafts with
a vein. Conclusions. We present a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-perform two-step method to analyse bone and vessels by 𝜇CT,
suitable to assess a variety of bone-regenerative strategies.
Keywords :
Acid , Phosphotungstic , Ink-Gelatin , blood
