Reperfusion injury in bone: effects of CV-3611, a free radical scavenger, on ischemic revascularized bone grafts in rats.

: Oxygen-derived free radicals have been shown to play an important role in reperfusion injury. The protective effect of CV-3611, a new free radical scavenger, on reperfusion injury in an ischemic revascularized hind limb model in rats was examined. Warm ischemia (25 degrees C) was produced by vascular pedicle clamping and sustained for 0, 3, and 6 hr. Histologic and fluorochrome bone-labeling analyses demonstrated improved overall viability of osteocytes, osteoblasts, and marrow cells in the CV-3611-treated group compared to controls. The CV-3611-treated group had statistically significant improvement in the ratio of lacunae, maintained osteogenetic ability, and preserved normal growth plate architecture after 6 hr of ischemia. The control group showed local central areas of disorganization by 3 hr and complete destruction of the growth plate with early growth arrest after 6 hr of ischemia. These results indicate that administration of CV-3611 prior to reperfusion can prevent reperfusion damage in bone tissue and maintain osteogenetic ability. This technique may have clinical application for reducing the complications of prolonged ischemia to bone tissue.