Use of β-tricalcium phosphate in foot and ankle surgery: a report of 20 cases

Abstract

We report on 20 cases using β-tricalcium phosphate (Biosorb®) in foot and ankle surgery. There were 15 men and five women, aged between 19 and 63 years (mean age 39 years). The average follow-up was 21 months (6–60 months). The indications were distributed as follows: five benign tumours, one osteonecrosis, three osteochondritis, seven arthrodesis and four trauma cases. We used the GESTO classification (association pour l'étude des Greffes Et Substituts Tissulaires en Orthopédie). This classification takes into account the type of substance loss, the nature of the surrounding bone and the dimension of the loss of substance. A qualitative scale was also used to try to qualify the integration of bone and ceramic: poor, average, good and excellent. The best results (classified as excellent) were obtained in trauma cases (75%), arthrodeses (57%) and benign tumours (40%). There were no infectious complications. Furthermore, no fibrous encapsulation was observed around the implants in any cases. In our experience, β-tricalcium phosphate would seem to be an excellent bone substitute for filling bone defects in trauma cases and in orthopaedic surgery of the foot and ankle with the exception of osteochondritis and osteonecrosis.