1051 - Enhancement of Bone Formation in a Canine Radial Defect Using Autologous Growth Factors

Introduction An intra-operative technique of collecting and concentrating the buffy coat from a unit of blood has previously been characterized. This autologous approach may be an alternative to other potential osteoinductive therapies such as bone morphogenetic proteins, or conceptually may be used as a synergistic carrier for BMPs or ostetoprogenitor cells. Platelets contain a number of growth factors, including Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β), Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF), and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), which have been demonstrated to have an active role during various stages of the bone healing cascade. These factors have been shown to enhance vascular tissue ingrowth, increase the migration of osteoblasts and osteoprogenitor cells to the local site, cause these cells to multiply in number, and influence their differentiation down the osteoblast lineage progression. Termed Autologous Growth Factors (AGF), this ultraconcentrated platelet solution also contains fibrinogen at three times greater than native levels, and will form a reliable, firm gel upon the addition of a small volume of thrombin. This pilot study evaluated the addition of AGF Gel to a bone graft substitute (Pro Osteon 500R) in a segmental defect model using the canine radius.