Can hydroxyapatite charged collagen sponge help reduce perioperative blood loss in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery? Preliminary results in 68 patients

Purpose Patient blood management has been recently emphasized to avoid perioperative blood transfusion in AIS surgery. Hydroxyapatite charged collagen sponge (HCS) is a bone substitute material made of collagen and ceramized hydroxyapatite, with associated haemostatic properties. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of HCS in the perioperative blood loss in AIS surgery. Methods After IRB approval, all AIS patients undergoing primary correction were prospectively included over a 15-month period. Patients receiving HCS at the end of the procedure were compared to a control group (matched for age, gender, and fusion levels) without any haemostatic agent or bone substitute. The same perioperative blood saving strategies were used in both groups. Two subfascial drains were used for 48 h in all patients. Perioperative blood loss and transfusion rates were analysed. Results A total of 34 patients were included in each group. No difference in drainage volume was observed at day 1, but the reduction was statistically different at day 3 (1135 mL [800–1640] versus 930 [480–1510], p = 0.028, 0.63 ml/Kg/h [0.4–0.92] versus 0.46 [0.29–0.7], p = 0.042). Multivariate analysis found that the use of HCS was associated with a decrease in the postoperative blood loss (OR = 1.17 [1.10–1.25]). The transfusion rate was lower in the HCS group [0 (0% vs. 3(8.8%), p = 0.076)]. No infection occurred, and no complication was reported. Conclusion With 27% reduction in drain volume, hydroxyapatite charged collagen sponge can be considered as a blood salving strategy in AIS surgery. The role of the biomaterial in fusion rate still needs to be further assessed.