Poly(Thioketal Urethane) Autograft Extenders in an Intertransverse Process Model of Bone Formation.

The development of autograft extenders is a significant clinical need in bone tissue engineering. We report new settable poly(thioketal urethane)-based autograft extenders that have bone-like mechanical properties and handling properties comparable to calcium phosphate bone cements. These settable autograft extenders remodeled to form new bone in a biologically stringent intertransverse process model of bone formation that does not heal when treated with calcium phosphate bone void fillers or cements alone. This is the first study to report settable autograft extenders with bone-like strength and handling properties comparable to ceramic bone cements, which have the potential to improve treatment of bone fractures and other orthopedic conditions.