Osteoprogenitor cell adhesiveness to a titanium mesh. A clinically relevant hypothesis for revision surgery in hip replacement

Bone defects are a major problem in primary and, even worse, revision surgery of the hip. Impacted allograft contained by a metallic mesh has been used for bone reconstruction. However, since allograft has been claimed to reabsorb, and to provoke immunogenic responses with potential viral infection and loosening because of allograft and mesh interface, new bone substitutes are being searched for. In this study we have cultured committed osteoprogenitor cells within a titanium mesh. The cells not only multiplied very easily, but also adhered to the mesh surface. We believe this phenomenon may have great clinical relevance for cell therapy as an alternative to allograft for the treatment of bone defects in acetabular or femoral reconstruction in revision surgery of the hip.