Analysis of relevant proteins from bone graft harvested using the reamer irrigator and aspirator system (RIA) versus iliac crest (IC) bone graft and RIA waste water.

PURPOSE

Femoral reaming using a Reamer Irrigator Aspirator (RIA) can produce greater than three liters of waste water per procedure, which contains cells and proteins that could promote bone healing. This purpose of this study was to determine the protein profile of RIA waste water and compare protein synthesis by cells harvested via RIA versus iliac crest (IC) bone graft.

METHOD

Bone graft was collected from 30 patients-15 using RIA from the femur and 15 harvested from the iliac crest. Waste water collected during the RIA procedure was analyzed in 12 patients. Cells from each graft were cultured in monolayer using growth media for 14days and inductive media for the next 14days. Media samples were collected on days 14, 21, and 28. Proteins for analysis were chosen based on their potential in bone healing, pro-inflammatory, and anti-inflammatory processes.

RESULTS

Proteins present in RIA waste water indicate the potential for clinical use of this filtrate as an adjunct for enhancing bone production, healing, and remodeling. Similarly, cells cultured from RIA bone graft harvests compared favorably to those from iliac crest bone grafts with respect to their potential to aid in bone healing.

CONCLUSION

RIA waste water has potential to serve as an autogenic and allogenic enhancer for bone healing. Continued development of processing protocols for viable commercial use of the waste water and pre-clinical studies designed to evaluate RIA waste water products for bone healing are ongoing.