Photodynamic Therapy Treatment to Enhance Fracture Healing

Abstract

Long bone fractures resulting from high impact trauma can result in delayed healing. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-surgical, non-ionizing minimally invasive local treatment currently used to treat cancer and skin diseases. Surprisingly, recent findings from studying the effect of PDT on spinal metastases have shown that PDT improved the strength and stiffness of the vertebrae. Although variability in fracture generation led to inconclusive findings with respect to bone generation in the closed tibia fracture model (n=17), higher local levels of VEGF were found in PDT treated animals. A critical size defect fracture of the femur was generated in 20 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. PDT treatment was applied either 1d (n=6) or 7d (n=6) after fracture generation. Qualitatively, a larger callus was seen in the 7d-PDT group, suggesting an important effect of timing on PDT administration. Both PDT treated groups showed evidence of healing and closing of the fracture gap in this critical defect model. Preliminary, quantitative CT measurements support the qualitative findings. Additional CT based imaging and stereological analysis are underway. Histologic processing and analysis of the serum will also be conducted on these animals.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA578788

Entities

People

  • Albert J. Yee
  • Brian C. Wilson
  • Cari M. Whyne
  • Diane Nam
  • Margarete K. Akens

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anatomy
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Research
  • Bone And Bones
  • Bone Diseases
  • Bone Fractures
  • Demographic Cohorts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Electronic Mail
  • High Resolution
  • Laser Therapy
  • Osteogenesis
  • Skin Diseases
  • Spinal Column
  • Stiffness
  • X Rays

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • Medical Imaging.
  • Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.