Treatment of benign bone lesions with an injectable calcium sulfate-based bone graft substitute

Abstract

The treatment of benign bone lesions can be challenging due to the limited quantity of autogenous graft available for harvest and grafting of the defect. The use of an injectable calcium bone graft substitute, Minimally-Invasive Injectable Graft (MIIG) (Wright Medical Technology, Inc, Arlington, Tenn), material for treatment of these bone lesions is advantageous. Calcium sulfate has a long-standing history in the treatment of bone voids secondary to trauma, infection, or neoplastic processes. Minimally-Invasive Injectable Graft injectable calcium sulfate graft may be injected into surgically created osseous defects or bone defects secondary to traumatic injury. After hardening, the paste acts as a temporary intraosseous support through which internal fixation may be placed. Fifteen patients with benign space-occupying lesions were treated with curettage and grafting with an injectable, surgical-grade, calcium sulfate bone graft substitute. Bone healing was assessed postoperatively and defined as resorption of the bone graft substitute material and replacement with new bone formation. The grafted defects in 14 of the 15 patients showed complete incorporation of the graft material at an average of 8 weeks. One patient required incision and drainage for a deep infection 5 weeks postoperatively. The average follow-up was 6 months (range: 3-15 months), and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional outcome scores averaged 83%. This injectable, minimally invasive graft material is easy to use, provides a temporary structural support when grafting bone defects, and results in predictable rapid bone healing.