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Radiographic appearance of CERAMENT™

Advice sheet for Surgeons and Radiologists

The structure and function of CERAMENT™

CERAMENT™ is an osteoconductive bone graft substitute which consists of hydroxyapatite (HA) particles, calcium sulfate (CaS)¹ crystals and a liquid. CERAMENT™|G contains gentamicin2 and CERAMENT™ V contains vancomycin3.

Turnover of CERAMENT™

After CERAMENT™ has been injected into a bone void, tissue fluids fill microporous channels in the material, and both passive dissolution and active resorption of the CaS begins, leaving behind a HA scaffold for colonization by osteoblasts and formation of new bone4-7. The remodeling process of CERAMENT™ starts immediately after implantation and continues over several months. This process of dissolution and simultaneous bone formation is unique to the material. Bone remodeling is not uniform in all cases and this may lead to difficulty in assessing progress on radiographs. The aim of this guidance document is to describe the different radiological patterns of bone remodeling seen after implantation of CERAMENT™ products.

Pattern of remodeling of CERAMENT™

Analysing the radiographs of the first 100 patients treated for chronic osteomyelitis at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK with CERAMENT™|G, we were able to distinguish at least four distinct patterns of remodeling of CERAMENT™. These patterns can often be found at specific time intervals and may occur alone or in combination.

“MARBLE” SIGN

“PUDDLE” SIGN

These signs might cause some concern in the clinic, but should be thought of as stages in the process of degradation of CERAMENT™|G and the generation of new bone. None of the signs imply cessation of remodeling, a failure of the bone graft substitute or an indication for revision surgery.

“HALO” SIGN

Radiographic appearance of CERAMENT™Advice sheet for Surgeons and Radiologists

Pattern A - Direct transition into bone structure

Case details: 54 year old male presenting after a puncture wound to the right heel 25 years ago and subsequent chronic osteomyelitis. In a one-stage approach, the soft tissue and the bone were debrided and the void filled with 20mL CERAMENT™|G. No external or internal fixation was used. Each of the five intra-operative bone samples were positive for Achromobacter species.

FIGURE 1: Pre-operative radiographs. Note the osteolysis of the calcaneus.

FIGURE 2: Post-operative radiographs. After debridement, the contained void was completely filled with CERAMENT™|G. It can be seen that the CERAMENT™|G has a very distinct edge and it is clearly distinguished from the surrounding bone.

FIGURE 3: Follow-up radiograph at 3 months. The dense aspect of CERAMENT™|G has changed to a blurry, milky appearance. Some leakage of CERAMENT™|G into the soft tissue is seen at the plantar surface of the calcaneus.


Pattern A - Direct transition into bone structure

FIGURE 3 CONT: Follow-up radiograph at 6 months. The leakage into the soft tissue is gradually resorbed. The remodeling process of CERAMENT™|G is continuing.

FIGURE 4: Follow-up radiograph at 12 months. A trabecular structure becomes visible in the former bone void. CERAMENT™|G in the soft tissue has been completely resorbed.


Pattern B - “Marble" sign

Case details: 33 year old male presenting with a haematogenous Brodie’s abscess of the left femoral neck. After debridement, the bone void was filled with 20mL CERAMENT™|G.

FIGURE 7: Follow-up radiograph at 3 months: The “marble” sign has disappeared and bone remodeling is seen in the periphery of the residual material.

FIGURE 5: Post-operative radiographs. After debridement, the contained void was completely filled with CERAMENT™|G.

FIGURE 6: Follow-up radiograph at 5 weeks. Resorption of CERAMENT™|G has begun. The CERAMENT™|G remnants form two compact looking structures, like marbles (“marble" sign).


FIGURE 8: Follow-up radiograph at 6 months: Progressive bone formation can be noted.

Pattern B - “Marble" sign

FIGURE 9: Follow-up radiograph at 12 months. The bone remodeling continues.

FIGURE 10: Follow-up radiograph at 16 months. Complete bone remodeling is seen.


Pattern C - “Halo” sign

Case details: 56 year old male presenting with chronic osteomyelitis after ORIF of an ankle fracture. Persistent discharge for 3 years despite local excision, VAC therapy, fasciocutaneus flap and prolonged antibiotics.

FIGURE 13: Follow-up radiograph at 9 weeks. Resorption of CERAMENT™|G has progressed to a great amount. The previous distinct edge has disappeared and has been replaced by a radiopaque ring. This radiographic finding was named “halo” sign. The ring forms in the bone adjacent to the CERAMENT™|G, indicating a zone of high bone remodeling activity. The centre of the void is radiolucent and therefore might appear “empty”.

FIGURE 11: Pre-operative radiographs. Note the sclerotic and osteolytic bone of the distal tibia.

FIGURE 12: Post-operative radiographs. After excision of necrotic bone, the bone void was completely filled with CERAMENT™|G. The distinct edge of the material is visible.


FIGURE 14: Follow-up T2 MRI at 12 weeks. T2 MRI was carried out to analyse the structures inside the bone void at 3 months. In contrast to the radiographs, the void does not appear empty in the T2 MRI, but filled with a liquefied substance, containing solid particles throughout.

Pattern C - “Halo" sign

FIGURE 15: Follow-up radiograph at 7 months, showing progression of bone remodeling.

FIGURE 16: Follow-up T2 MRI at 12 months, showing bone remodeling throughout CERAMENT™|G, including the formation of cortical bone at the bone window created during surgery.


Pattern D - “Puddle” sign

Case details: 83 year old male patient with a history of chronic osteomyelitis for 60 years with a draining sinus. A gentamicin sensitive S. aureus was detected in four of four bone samples.

FIGURE 17: Pre-operative radiographs: Note the three osteolytic lesions of the distal tibia.

FIGURE 18: Post-operative radiographs: The osteomyelitic cavity was excised with a bone burr and the void filled with 20mL of CERAMENT™|G.

FIGURE 19: Follow-up radiographs at 5 weeks: Resorption of CERAMENT™|G has started and a “halo” sign appears in the bone adjacent to the material.


FIGURE 22: Follow-up radiographs at 6 months: The combination of the “puddle” and “halo” signs is clearly visible.

FIGURE 20: Follow-up radiographs at 10 weeks: The resorption of CERAMENT™|G continues. Note the “marble” sign in combination with the “halo” sign.

Pattern D - “Puddle" sign

FIGURE 21: Follow-up radiographs at 4 months. The “marble" sign has disappeared, the bone graft substitute settles in the distal part of the cavity due to gravity and forms a “puddle” sign. This occurs over several weeks. It should be noted that the CERAMENT™|G is not liquid. The radiographs are taken with the patient supine and the material does not flow into the posterior part of the cavity.


FIGURE 23: Follow-up radiographs at 12 months: Compared to the previous radiographs, the ventral cortical bone in front of the bone void has become thicker and stronger. There is increased density with trabecular figures visible in the cavity which were not present at 4 months after surgery. The “puddle” sign has not changed.

Pattern D - “Puddle" sign

FIGURE 25: Follow-up radiographs at 22 months: the “puddle” sign is still visible after almost 2 years but continued bone remodeling can be seen and the patient is clinically well and mobilizing.

FIGURE 24: Follow-up radiographs at 16 months: The “halo” sign becomes less prominent.


Conclusion

CERAMENT™ is remodeled over many months. This process will be determined by the

surrounding bone quality and the mechanical loading of the material. It is likely that

remodeling will continue until the bone has produced sufficient new bone to cope with

the loads placed across the defect (Wolff’s Law)8. The x-ray appearances described above

are stages in the process from initial defect filling to restoration of bony integrity.

Literature1 Nilsson M, Zheng MH, Tägil M. The composite of hydroxyapatite and calcium sulphate: a review of preclinical evaluation and clinical applications. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2013; 10: 675-684.

2 CERAMENT™|G Product Data Sheet, BONESUPPORT AB PR-0283-02EN.

3 CERAMENT™ V Instructions for Use - A 0451, IFU 0016-02 sv 2013-1.

4 Nilsson M, Wang JS, Wielanek L, Tanner KE, Lindgren L. Biodegradation and biocompatability of a calcium sulphate-hydroxyapatite bone substitute. J Bone Joint Surg [Br]. 2004; 86-B: 120 – 125.

5 Beuerlein MJ, McKee MD. Calcium sulfates: what is the evidence? J Orthop Trauma. 2010; 24 Suppl. 1: S46-51.

6 Iundusi R, Gasbarra E, D’Arienzo M, Piccioli A, Tarantino U. Augmentation of tibial plateau fractures with an injectable bone substitute: CERAMENT™. Three year follow-up from a prospective study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015; 16: 115.

7 Kaczmarczyk J, Sowinski P, Goch M, Katulska K. Complete twelve month bone remodeling with a bi-phasic injectable bone substitute in benign bone tumours: a prospective pilot study. BMC Musculoskel Disord. 2015; 16: 369

8 Wolff J. Ueber die innere Architectur der Knochen und ihre Bedeutung für die Frage vom Knochenwachsthum. Virchows Arch Pathol Anat Physiol. 1870; 50: 389–450.

PR 0526-01 en EU

BONESUPPORT AB Ideon Science Park, Scheelevägen 19 SE-223 70 Lund, Sweden

T: +46 46 286 53 70 F: +46 46 286 53 71 E: [email protected]

www.bonesupport.com

OUR MISSION is to provide an injectable radiopaque bone substitute that has been proven to rapidly remodel into bone, with the potential to be combined with other substances, and is capable of being delivered percutaneously.


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