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The effects of a single local injection of recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2 on the healing of segmental bone defects were evaluated in rabbits. One month after the external fixator originally designed for this experiment was installed in the tibia of the rabbit, a 3-mm bone defect was created by an osteotomy in the middle of the tibia and 0, 50, 100, 200, or 400 microg of fibroblast growth factor-2 in 100 microl of saline solution was injected into the defect. Injection of the growth factor increased the volume and mineral content of newly made bone at the defect in a dose-dependent manner with significant effects at concentrations of 100 microg or greater. These significant effects were observed at 5 weeks and later. One hundred micrograms of the growth factor increased the volume and mineral content of newly made bone by 95 and 36%, respectively, at 5 weeks. These results indicate that a single local injection of fibroblast growth factor-2 stimulates the healing of segmental defects. We speculate that such an injection could be clinically useful for the healing of fractures even when the fracture gap is rather large.

ELPS is a hybrid of head and neck surgery and gastrointestinal endoscopic treatment, and enjoys the merit of both procedures. ELPS makes it possible to perform minimally-invasive surgery, preserving both the swallowing and phonation functions.