[Bone defects in revision knee arthroplasty: filling with bone allograft plus platelet-derived growth factors].

BACKGROUND One of the most challenging aspects of a revision knee arthroplasty is the management of bone loss. The OBJECTIVE of the study is to show the capability to augment bone mineral density in areas with bone loss with platelet-derived growth factors. METHODS Randomized, prospective, blinded study in patients who underwent a total knee replacement revision with tibial-damaged metaphyseal bone were randomly allocated to have a revision total knee arthroplasty and to fill the bone defects with lyophilized bone allograft mixed with platelet growth factors (experimental group, n= 9) or with lyophilized bone allograft alone (control group, n= 7). To evaluate bone mineral density between groups, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed preoperatively, at 1 month, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS The study was comprised of a total of 16 patients. We found no significant differences observed during the follow-up between groups in mineral bone density. CONCLUSIONS Use of platelet-derived growth factors does not improve bone mineral density in patients with revision knee arthroplasty.