Aesthetic Implantation of Calcium Hydroxylapatite Does Not Interfere With Radiological Assessment of Bones in the Dorsum of the Hands


 
 
 Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) is a radiopaque dermal filler used to provide volume correction in the dorsal hands.
 
 
 
 To evaluate whether CaHA implantation in the dorsum of the hands interferes with radiological assessment by obscuring the bones.
 
 
 
 This 2-year, prospective, single-center, open-label study enrolled 20 subjects with Merz Hand Grading Scale (MHGS) grades ranging from moderate (MHGS 2 or 3; n = 10) to very severe (MHGS 4; n = 10). All subjects received an initial CaHA treatment and were offered up to three retreatments to provide volume correction in the dorsal hands, over the span of 18 months. Bone obscuration was assessed by blinded, licensed radiologists responsible for interpreting plain radiographs (X–rays).
 
 
 
 CaHA was seen to be present in 100% of hands in Month 1 X–rays and in 83.3% in Month 24 X–rays, but no bone obscuration was reported in any X–rays at any evaluated time point.
 
 
 
 According to blinded radiologists, treatment with CaHA in the dorsal hands does not obscure radiographic assessment of the bones seen on X–rays up to 24 months after initial injection. The safety of CaHA retreatment was also demonstrated by the lack of bone obscuration after multiple retreatments.
