Aging and osteoporosis contribute to decreased bone mass and bone mineral density as well as compromised fracture healing rates and bone repair quality. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to determine if recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF-BB) delivered in an injectable beta-tricalcium phosphate/collagen matrix would enhance tibial fracture healing in geriatric (>2 years of age), osteoporotic rats. A total of 80 rats were divided equally among four groups: Fracture alone; Fracture plus matrix; Fracture plus matrix and either 0.3 mg/mL or 1.0 mg/mL rhPDGF-BB. At 3 and 5 weeks, rats were euthanized and treatment outcome was assessed histologically, radiographically, biomechanically, and by micro-CT. Results indicated rhPDGF-BB-treated fractures in osteoporotic, geriatric rats caused a statistically significant time-dependent increase in torsional strength 5 weeks after treatment. The healed fractures were equivalent in torsional strength to the contralateral, unoperated tibiae. Data from the study are the first, to our knowledge, to underscore rhPDGF-BB efficacy in an injectable betatricalcium phosphate/collagen matrix accelerated fracture repair in a geriatric, osteoporotic rat model. ß
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.