Calcium phosphate cements for bone augmentation through vertebroplasty

骨折后稳定脊柱的传统方法包括高侵入性手术，在许多情况下，通过两种不同的入路将内固定装置固定到脊柱的后侧和/或前侧。这种手术的风险很高，因为患者经常遭受多处损伤，而且手术距离脊髓和主要血管很近。最近，一种名为“椎体成形术”的新技术被研究作为治疗脊柱爆裂骨折的替代方法，脊柱爆裂骨折是由高能撞击引起的。使用这种方法，骨水泥被注入骨折椎体以稳定节段，而不需要进行大的侵入性手术。尽管该技术显示出潜力，但用于治疗爆裂骨折的水泥尚未得到优化。由于这种类型的损伤最常见于年轻患者，骨折后存在骨再生的可能性。因此，建议支持骨生长的材料，如磷酸钙（CaP），将提供更好的固定手段。本研究的目的是研究并优化CaP骨水泥用于爆裂性骨折初级固定的应用。该研究将结合贝尔法斯特女王大学在水泥开发和生物评估方面的专业知识，以及利兹大学在脊柱建模方面的专业知识。该项目将包括使用计算技术确定水泥在一系列患者中的最佳性能。这些特性将通过新的材料配方和加工实现。然后将通过体内和体外测试来评估水泥的长期成功。

Traditional procedures to stabilise the spine following fracture involve highly invasive surgery to attach instrumentation, in many cases via two separate approaches, to the posterior and/or anterior of the spine. High risks are associated with this procedure because the patient has often suffered multiple injuries and the surgery is in close proximity to the spinal cord and major blood vessels. Recently, a new technique called 'vertebroplasty' has been investigated as an alternative treatment for spinal burst fractures, which are caused by high energy impacts. Using this procedure, bone cement is injected into the fractured vertebra to stabilise the segment without the need for major invasive surgery. Although this technique shows potential, the cements used have yet to be optimised for the treatment of burst fractures. Since this type of injury most commonly occurs in younger patients, there is potential for bony regrowth following the fracture. Therefore, it is proposed that materials that support bone growth, such as calcium phosphate (CaP), will provide a better means of fixation. The aim of this study is to investigate and optimise the use of CaP cements for the primary fixation of burst fractures. The study will combine the expertise in cement development and biological evaluation at Queen's University Belfast with that in spinal modelling at the University of Leeds.The project will involve determining the optimum properties for the cements across a range of patients using computational techniques. These properties will be realised through novel material formulation and processing. The long term success of the cements will then be assessed using in vivo and in vitro testing.