Bone morphogenetic proteins and distraction osteogenesis

Bone formation in distraction osteogenesis(DO) resembles aspects of both normal fracture healing and embryonic bony developments. Bone morphogenetic proteins(BMPs) play an important role in the signaling pathways that link the mechanical forces created by distraction to biological responses. The molecular signals that govern distraction-induced bone formation have not been fully elucidated. Specifically, the role of BMPs in DO remains unclear. BMPs is a differentiation factor which has been shown to induce bone formation and heal bone defects in a variety of animal models now. Although this technique has revolutionized the treatment of many bony defects and deformities, the main problem is the long period of treatment in clinical practice, which often involve significant complications and considerable social psychological problems. Long duration of the bone consolidation phase can be a primary cause. Then, there is a burning need for augmentation of bone consolidation to shorten the long procedure of DO clinically. Experimental study of effects of multiform local application of BMPs in DO are outspreading recently.