The effect of enhanced bone marrow in conjunction with 3D-printed PLA-HA in the repair of critical-sized bone defects in a rabbit model

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, the iliac crest has been the most common harvesting site for autologous bone grafts; however, it has some limitations, including poor bone availability and donor-site morbidity. This study sought to explore the effect of enhanced bone marrow (eBM) in conjunction with three-dimensional (3D)-printed polylactide–hydroxyapatite (PLA-HA) scaffolds in the repair of critical-sized bone defects in a rabbit model. METHODS: First, 3D-printed PLA-HA scaffolds were fabricated and evaluated using micro-computed tomography (µCT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Twenty-seven New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=9 per group), and the defects were treated using 3D-printed PLA-HA scaffolds (the PLA-HA group) or eBM in conjunction with 3D-printed PLA-HA scaffolds (the PLA-HA/eBM group), or were left untreated (the control group). Radiographic, µCT, and histological analyses were performed to evaluate bone regeneration in the different groups. RESULTS: The 3D-printed PLA-HA scaffolds were cylindrical, and had a mean pore size of 500±47.1 µm and 60%±3.5% porosity. At 4 and 8 weeks, the lane-sandhu X-ray score in the PLA-HA/eBM group was significantly higher than that in the PLA-HA group and the control group (P