Use of Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Collagen Carrier with Equine Bone Lyophilisate Suggests Late Onset Bone Regenerative Effect in a Humerus Drill Defect – A Pilot Study in Six Sheep

We assessed the use of a filler compound together with the osteoinductive demineralized bone matrix (DBM), Colloss E. The filler was comprised of carboxymethyl-cellulose and collagen type 1. The purpose of the study was to see if the filler compound would enhance the bone formation and distribute the osteoinductive stimulus throughout the bone defect. Six sheep underwent a bilateral humerus drill defect. The drill hole was filled with a compound consisting of 100 mg CMC, 100 mg collagen powder, and 1 ccm autologous full blood in one side, and a combination of this filler compound and 20 mg Colloss E in the other. The animals were divided into three groups of two animals and observed for 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Drill holes was evaluated using quantitative computed tomography (QCT), micro computed tomography (microCT) and histomorphometry. Mean total bone mineral density (BMD) of each implantation site was calculated with both QCT and microCT. Bone volume to total volume (BV/TV) was analyzed using microCT and histomorphometry. Although not statistically significant, results showed increased bone BMD after 16 weeks in microCT data and an increased BV/TV after 16 weeks in both microCT and histology. Correlation between QCT and microCT was R(2) = 0.804. Correlation between histomorphometry and microCT BV/TV data was R(2) = 0.8935 and with an average overrepresentation of 8.2% in histomorphometry. In conclusion the CMC-Collagen + Colloss E filler seems like a viable osteogenic bone filler mid- to long term. A correlation was found between the analytical methods used in this study.