Bone glue developed by Brno scientists could help treat complex fractures

Scientists in Brno have developed a special bone glue that could one day help doctors treat even complicated fractures. The material is now being tested on sheep.

The special bone glue was developed at the CEITEC research centre at Brno University of Technology, together with surgeons from Brno University Hospital and Masaryk University.

Pavel Sýkora from Brno University Hospital is taking X-rays. These enable the doctors to monitor the sheep’s condition and ensure the bone cement is correctly positioned throughout the procedure|Photo: Marek Hensl, Czech Radio

Using sheep, researchers are testing whether it can help repair broken bones and eventually be absorbed by the body. Surgeon Milan Krtička from Brno University Hospital describes how the glue is being tested:

“We are creating a hole in the middle of the metacarpal bone. We drill out a small piece of bone so that we can test the glue, and then glue the piece back into place. We will see how the glue attaches to the bone, becomes integrated and eventually turns into new bone.”

While the surgeons prepare the bone, researchers have to mix the glue very quickly so that it does not harden too soon. Once it hardens, the material becomes porous and helps new bone to form, says Lenka Michlovská, a scientist at CEITEC.

Lenka Michlovská from CEITEC VUT is preparing the bone adhesive just before it is applied|Photo: Marek Hensl, Czech Radio

The glue could eventually be used for complicated fractures in which a bone breaks into several pieces. Michlovská explains why the way it is applied could be particularly useful:

“The advantage is that it can be applied with a syringe, for example under X-ray guidance. That means the whole fracture would not necessarily have to be opened up.”

The new material could also overcome a limitation of existing bone adhesives. Methacrylate adhesives are mainly used to bond bone to metal in implants, rather than to join broken bone fragments.

Preparing a sheep for surgery. Veterinary surgeon Edita Jeklová from the Veterinary Research Institute supervises the procedure|Photo: Marek Hensl, Czech Radio

Krtička says one of the main innovations is that the new glue is designed to work even when there is blood around the injured bone:

“None of the adhesives tested so far have been tested in this kind of living, bloody environment. They were tested completely dry. The innovation here is that, thanks to the adhesive bridge, this glue will have the ability to attach to the bone even when there is blood present.”

First, the researchers apply an adhesive bridge to help the glue attach to the bone, rather like a primer before painting, and only then apply the bone glue. Krtička describes what happens next:

“It is a kind of ceramic paste. I apply it with a syringe to the site I have prepared, where I drilled out the piece of bone, and then I glue the piece back into place. We close the wound, and the experimental operation is over.”

A lamb recovering from surgery in a barn at the Veterinary Research Institute in Brno – it is eating, walking and putting weight on its operated leg without any problems|Photo: Marek Hensl, Czech Radio

The sheep will be monitored for several weeks to see how well the bones heal and how the glue behaves in the body. If the results are promising, the researchers will carry out further tests before the material could eventually be considered for use in human medicine.