Synthetic cancellous bone graft substitute ( -tricalcium phosphate) Remodels Replaced by bone in 6 18 months Easy to use Granules, blocks, wedges, cylinders Safe Synthetic origin provides unsurpassed safety Original Instruments and Implants of the Association for the Study of Internal Fixation AO/ASIF
Indications Chronos can be used wherever cancellous bone graft would normally be used. Depending on the size, voids of undefined geometric shape can be filled with granules or combinations of granules and blocks. Voids with defined geometric shape can be filled with blocks, wedges or cylinders. Trauma and orthopaedics Filling of voids caused by benign tumours, cysts and osteotomies, filling of defects arising from impacted fractures, refilling of cancellous bone harvesting sites, arthrodesis, non-unions and pseudoarthrosis. Spine surgery Postero-lateral fusion, interbody fusion (as cage filling material), vertebrectomies (as filling material of the vertebral implants). Cranio-maxillofacial surgery Reconstruction of mandibular cyst defects and voids after tooth socket extractions, augmentation of the alveolar ridge and the maxillary sinus. The use of Chronos is restricted to applications with minor loading, unless supported with internal fixation devices. Handling Chronos is preferably soaked with autogenous blood. Soaking the blocks, wedges and cylinders fills the pores and drives out remaining air. This procedure enhances the rapid exchange of fluids inside Chronos and initiates the start of the remodelling process. For an easier perfusion a syringe can be used. Soaking granules with autogenous blood results in a consistency that allows an easier placement into the surgical site. In order to achieve its osteogenic potential, Chronos can be mixed with cancellous bone or bone marrow. The blocks, wedges and cylinders can be easily formed to the desired shape with a suitable instrument, e.g. a scalpel.
Synthetic cancellous bone graft substitute Avoids bone harvesting Autologous bone grafting is associated with several shortcomings and potential complications. Studies have shown an incidence of up to 20.6% of minor complications and 8.6% of major complications associated with the use of autograft material (Younger et al. 1989). Chronos is an advantageous alternative to bone harvesting. It shortens operative time, solves the limitations in quantity and quality of available bone graft and avoids donor site morbidity. Remodels Chronos is replaced by host bone in 6 18 months. The remodelling process (simultaneous resorption and new bone formation) is possible due to the specific chemical composition and the optimised scaffold of Chronos. Easy to use The off-the-shelf product is available in different shapes and sizes: granules, blocks, wedges and cylinders. Chronos does not require preparation and is sterile packed. Safe The synthetic origin of Chronos provides high biocompatibility and unsurpassed safety, preventing any risk of transmission of infectious disease.
Synthetic material characteristics Other bone graft substitutes Hydroxyapatite Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 OH 2 Chronos β tricalcium phosphate β-ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 Right choice of chemical composition Differences in chemical composition of biomaterials have profound effects on their in vivo behaviour. Chronos consists of pure β-tricalcium phosphate which remodels completely. Hydroxyapatite, in contrast, resorbs very slowly, therefore remaining in the body for many years (Gazdag et al. 1995). No remodelling Remodelling Strength of cancellous bone The compressive strength of Chronos is consistently 7.5 ± 1 MPa. The standardized manufacturing process guarantees constant quality and provides reliable mechanical stability. The compressive strength of Chronos is similar to that of cancellous bone which is typically between 2 and 10 MPa (Van Auderkercke, Martens 1984). No adverse reactions All investigations, according to ISO 10993-1, demonstrate the excellent biocompatibility of Chronos. No adverse reactions have been observed in the 20 years of clinical applications (Steffen et al. 2001, Roesgen 1991, Gatti et al. 1990).
Engineered for osteoconductivity Optimised scaffold To induce the bone remodelling process osteoconductivity must occur. It is mainly influenced by three factors: the overall porosity, the interconnected macropores and the micropores. Chronos has been designed to optimise these features in order to mimic cancellous bone and provide an ideal scaffold for bone tissue infiltration. Overall porosity Chronos has a total porosity of 60% for the granules and 70% for the blocks, wedges and cylinders. A high porosity enhances the osteoconductivity, although a porosity which is too high weakens the material s mechanical strength. Chronos benefits from the highest possible degree of porosity, without compromising the mechanical strength. 2 mm Macropores of the required size Interconnected macropores % 40 30 20 10 Distribution The macropores of Chronos are mainly distributed within a range from 100 500 µm. This offers the optimal environment for vascularisation and migration of osteoclasts and osteoblasts (Gazdag et al. 1995). In addition, the macropores are interconnected to allow bone formation throughout the entire implant. 0 <100 160 240 320 400 500 >500 Pore Size µm Micropores Chronos contains micropores, which are defined as the space within the material smaller than 10 µm. The microporosity accelerates the remodelling process by increasing the surface area and allowing for circulation of body fluids. 30 µm
Remodelling is the key to success Desired remodelling process The key to success of Chronos is the remodelling process. Resorption and new bone formation happen simultaneously and are completed in 6 18 months. This is the result of both the choice of the specific chemical composition and the optimised scaffold as described previously. Replaced in 6 18 months Timing is the critical factor for a bone graft to remodel into natural bone. If the resorption is too rapid, the osteoblasts lose the scaffold needed for the formation of new bone. If the resorption is too slow or incomplete, the graft will not be replaced by bone in an adequate time span. Chronos has been designed to remodel in an ideal time span, being replaced by host bone in 6 18 months. Simultaneous resorption and new bone formation As Chronos is structurally and chemically similar to bone, osteoclasts resorb Chronos like endogenous bone. During resorption, osteoclasts attach to the matrix and create lacunae on the implant surface. As this resorption takes place, new bone is formed: osteoblasts fill the lacunae, thus synthesising extracellular matrix, which is subsequently calcified. Chronos New bone Osteoblasts Osteoclast
Histology Successful spinal interbody fusion Cages filled with Chronos granules were used to achieve intervertebral fusion in sheep. The following figures show non-decalcified sections stained with toluidine blue: grey represents Chronos, blue represents bone, white represents medullary space (Steffen et al. 2001; histologies by R. K. Schenk, Berne). 8 weeks postoperative: Bone surrounds Chronos granules and integrates in its pores. 1 mm 16 weeks postoperative: Some of the granules are still surrounded by initially formed bone with low mineral content, woven bone. Other parts of Chronos are already covered by dense oriented bone, lamellar bone. 1 mm 32 weeks postoperative: Extensive substitution of Chronos granules. Remodelling has replaced mostly all tricalcium phosphate particles and simultaneously, the mean volume of bone matrix has increased constantly. 1 mm
Bibliography Twenty years of clinical experience Chronos has been used successfully in dental applications for twenty years. As early as 1988, P. S. Eggli et al. had suggested that Chronos underwent osteoclastic resorption and in 1990 J.-P. Pochon wrote about Chronos as an advantageous bone graft for bone defects in children (under the name Ceros-82). Since these publications, several studies have shown the excellent behaviour of Chronos as a bone graft in trauma, spinal and dental applications. Clinical and animal studies Muschik M, Ludwig R, Halbhübner S, Bursche K, Stoll T (2001) -Tricalcium phosphate as a bone substitute for dorsal spinal fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis preliminary results of a prospective clinical study. Eur Spine J 10: 178 184 Steffen T, Stoll T, Arvinte T, Schenk RK (2001) Porous tricalcium phosphate and transforming growth factor used for anterior spine surgery. Eur Spine J 10: 132 140 Cross AR, Eschbach EJ, Lewis DD, Wheeler DL (2000) Surface contour analysis of tibial plateaus with subshondral bone defects supplemented with autograft or tricalcium phosphate in a caprine model. Abstract, Transactions 645, Sixth World Biomaterial Congress 2000 Roesgen M (1991) Knöcherne Regeneration und Calciumphosphatkeramiken. Traumatologie aktuell, Band 4, Thieme, Stuttgart Gatti AM, Zaffe D, Poli GP (1990) Behaviour of tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite granules in sheep bone defects. Biomaterials (England) 11: 513 517 Pochon J-P (1990) Knochenersatzplastiken mit Trikalziumphosphatkeramik im Kindesalter. Aktuelle Probl Chir Orthop (Switzerland) 36: 1 51 Eggli PS, Müller W, Schenk RK (1988) Porous hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate cylinders with different pore size ranges implanted in the cancellous bone of rabbits a comparative histomorphometric and histologic study of bony ingrowth and implant substitution. Clin Orthop 232 Jul: 127 38 Waisbrod H, Gerbershagen HU (1986) A pilot study of the value of ceramics for bone replacement. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 105(5): 298 301 Other studies Bohner M (2001) Physical and chemical aspects of calcium phosphates used in spinal surgery. Eur Spine J 10 Suppl 2: S114 S21 Van Audekercke R, Martens M (1984) Mechanical properties of cancellous bone. In: Hastings GW, Ducheyne P, Natural and living biomaterials. CRC Press, Boca Raton Steffen T, Downer P, Steiner B, Hehli M, Aebi M (2000) Minimally invasive bone harvesting tools. Eur Spine J 9: 114 118 Gazdag AR, Lane JM, Glaser D, Forster RA (1995) Alternatives to autogenous bone graft: efficacy and indications. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 1995 3(1): 1 8 Younger EM, Chapman MW (1989) Morbidity at bone graft donor site. J Orthop Trauma 3(3): 192 5 Manufacturer: Mathys Medizinaltechnik AG Güterstrasse 5 CH-2544 Bettlach EU authorized representative: Mathys Medical Belux N.V.-S.A. B-1000 Brussels Distributed by: Stratec Medical Eimattstrasse 3 CH-4436 Oberdorf www.synthes-stratec.com Presented by: 0123 036.000.305 SM_707856 AA Stratec Medical 2004 Printed in Switzerland LAG Subject to modifications.