The compatibility of ceramic bone graft substitutes as allograft extenders for use in impaction grafting of the femur

This study investigates the use of porous biphasic ceramics as graft extenders in impaction grafting of the femur during revision hip surgery. Impaction grafting of the femur was performed in four groups of sheep. Group one received pure allograft, group two 50% allograft and 50% BoneSave, group three 50% allograft and 50% BoneSave type 2 and group four 10% allograft and 90% BoneSave as the graft material. Function was assessed using an index of pre- and post-operative peak vertical ground reaction force ratios. Changes in bone mineral density were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning. Loosening and subsidence were assesssed radiographically and by histological examination of the explanted specimens. There was no statistically significant difference between the four groups after 18 months of unrestricted functional loading for all outcome measures.