Influence of distraction rate on regenerate formation during femoral callus distraction in the rat model

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Emmanouil Liodakis; Professorin Claudia Neunaber, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Orthopaedics, Traumatology, Reconstructive Surgery
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 513898984

Segmental bone defects represent one of the greatest challenges in orthopedics and traumatology, with bone transport being the most effective treatment method. Although callus distraction has long been established and despite the constant development of new implants, the duration of treatment can be months to years, since an optimal distraction rate of approximately 1 mm per day has been taken for grated. Therefore, the aim of this animal experiment is to question the optimal distraction rate at the beginning and at the end of the distraction phase. The experiments are planned with 180 male Brown-Norway rats (Charles River, Sulzfeld, Germany), which will be randomly divided into 3 groups. Distraction distance is 9mm for all animals. The groups differ on the basis of the transport speed (constant vs. first fast, then slow vs. first slow, then fast. Molecular (qRT-PCR), radiological (μ-CT-Scans), biochemical (ELISA’s) and histological (Acrylat-histology) tests are planned to investigate the regenerate quality. For the different analyses four time points have been defined.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants