Healing of bone and tendon

Fracture healing in bone is described as an entity; but in reality the healing of shaft fractures (broken bones) and metaphyseal fractures (crushed bone, “osteoporosis fractures”) may be fundamentally different, considering which cell sources are available. Interestingly, the healing of metaphyseal fractures has not been studied until very recently, neither experimentally nor clinically, albeit they are far more common. 

The underlying reason is methodological difficulties, with a lack of animal models. We have created a robust model for metaphyseal healing, by regarding the fixation of an inserted screw in cancellous bone as the result of repair after trauma. The healing response is measured by pull-out force and morphology. We have identified fundamental differences in the response to drugs that influence inflammation. 

Stimulate by pharmacological treatment

Healing of injured tendons and bone can be stimulated by pharmacological treatment. This is a fairly new insight, which is just about to reach the clinic. Our group pioneered this field, both experimentally and clinically, with the first clinical trial ever showing accelerated fracture healing by drug treatment, as well as the first human trial showing improved implant fixation by a drug coating. 

So far, the drugs used have aimed at the later phases of healing, e.g. by stimulating osteoblast formation. Drugs can also impair healing of both tendon and bone. NSAIDs are well known inhibitors of healing. However, they can also have a positive effect, if they are given at a delayed time point. Strikingly, this time point appears to coincide with the switch from destructive to reparative inflammation, and moreover, NSAIDs interfere with the ability to respond to tissue deformation (mechanotransduction).

Bisphosphonates have a potential role

Bisphosphonates are common drugs, used against osteoporosis. Because they target bone resorbing cells, they have a potential role in fracture repair and implant fixation. It was previously thought that they would be useless for orthopedic applications, because of the coupling between osteoclasts and osteoblasts, and we were the first to recognize that this coupling is of little importance in early reparative processes. However, our reports came too early, before people were prepared to accept them. 

Following years of experimental work, we have shown in clinical trials that bisphosphonates are beneficial for bone implant fixation and bone graft incorporation.

Again, the first publications came too early to reach a prepared audience, but confirming studies have been published by others recentlyBisphosphonates also have skeletal side effects, such as bisphosphonate-associated fatigue fractures (“atypical femur fractures”) and so called osteonecrosis of the jaw.

The pathophysiology of both these conditions has been misunderstood in the literature, due to rather simple misconceptions, and we are currently working to clarify the basic mechanisms.

Athletes´ fractures heal poorly

Fatigue or stress fractures in athletes heal extremely poorly for unknown reasons. Biopsies from bisphosphonate-associated fatigue fractures show a fracture gap width of approximately 0.1 mm. I propose that the healing problems are due to a “grinding effect”, destroying any cell that tries to enter this very thin gap and initiate healing. If the grinding theory is correct, new methods will enable simple and efficacious treatments that induce fast healing.

Current research and future directions

Using mechanics, gene expression, and flow cytometry, we continue to explore the differences between fractures in different types of bone tissue, and how these differences influence their sensitivity to mechanical loading and drugs. This basic biological understanding of fracture healing is crucial for improved clinical treatment, and the ability to individualize treatment depending on fracture characteristics.

We study the effects of immobilization and various degrees of prescribed loading in patients with Achilles tendon ruptures using our method for mechanical evaluation An exploratory trial is almost completed, and a new randomized trial will start, this time with non-operative treatment.

We have just demonstrated in a clinical trial that a nanolayer of bisphosphonates on the surface of dental implants lead to better fixation 6 months after insertion, using resonance frequency analysis for evaluation.

Our next trial has started, with the goal to demonstrate that the bisphosphonate coating prevents the deterioration of fixation normally seen 4 to 8 weeks after insertion. This deterioration appears to be responsible for most clinical failures. We have just shown that local treatment with a bisphosphonate not only improves the early fixation of hip replacements, but also reduces the number of patients who develop “radiolucent zones”, a radiologic finding considered to signal increased risk of loosening.

We are now starting a randomized double-blinded trial on 1,000 patients to show that a single peroperative dose of a bisphosphonate (zoledronate) will improve patient-experienced function of the artificial joint.

In a nation-wide study of all femoral shaft fractures in women 2008, we demonstrated that the so called “atypical” (i.e. fatigue) fractures of the femur are strongly related to bisphosphonate use. Several follow-up papers followed. We now concentrate on the pathophysiological mechanism, using histopathology and mathematical modeling as well as a new, even larger epidemiologic study.

Traumatic injuries consume a large part of health care resources. The cost for only osteoporosis-related fractures in Sweden is estimated to 5 billion SEK per year (SCB). Moreover, elderly persons often do not recover after a fracture, and many die.

The reason for this is not so much the injury itself, as the burden of pain, immobility and isolation during the healing period. Also healthy, middle-aged people report a fearful loss of quality of life during extended periods after a fracture. The ultimate goal of our research is to shorten this period of suffering. Emerging results show that it is possible.

Pioneering the use of bisphosphonates in orthopaedics. We started early with animal experiments, leading to the first clinical trials showing improved implant fixation in humans (knee replacements and dental fixtures; 6 RCTs). 

Challenging the paradigm of “particle disease” in prosthetic loosening. Using animal models for the loosening of total joint prostheses, we demonstrated that mechanical signalling can initiate the full loosening process. This was done at a time when researchers in the field completely and unanimously agreed that wear particles were the sole reason for prosthetic loosening.

 First study to show accelerated fracture healing by systemic drug treatments in humans. This randomized controlled trial followed upon years of animal experimentation and efforts to convince the drug industry. We could show that PTH can accelerate fracture healing in humans. 

First demonstration of accelerated tendon healing by drug treatment. We showed in a rat model that a BMP analogue could accelerate tendon healing. This was the result of transferring experience from bone research into the tendon field. 

First (and only) study measuring the mechanics of human tendon healing. By transferring a clinical research method from the bone field to tendon we could develop a method to quantify healing in human randomized controlled trials. Using this, we have shown for the first time, that appropriate mechanical loading can improve properties of healing human tendons.

Clarifying concepts related to “atypical fracture” and “osteonecrosis of the jaw” (ONJ). In opposition to the prevailing view, we showed that atypical fractures are a side effect of bisphosphonates, and that ONJ is caused by a bisphosphonate-related inability to heal chronic infection (osteomyelitis).