Histomorphometric evaluation of the association between bioglass and lyophilized bovine bone in the treatment of critical bone defects created on rat calvaria: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE:

This study sought to histomorphometrically evaluate the effect of bioglass (B), lyophilized bovine bone (BB) or the 1:1 mixture of these two biomaterials on the repair of critical bone defects in rat calvaria.

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

Bone defects (8 mm Ø) were surgically created in the calvaria of 24 rats, which were divided into the following 4 groups of 6 animals each according to the type of biomaterial used: blood clot / coagulum (control) group (CG), bioglass group (BG), lyophilized bovine bone group (BBG) and a group receiving a mixture of these two biomaterials (BG/BB). The animals were euthanized at 15 or 60 days after surgery (3 animals per period). Histological evaluation was based on the morphological description of the newly formed tissues, and a quantification of the percentage of bone tissue with newly formed fibrous connective tissue and the percentage of biomaterial remaining in the bone defect was performed for the histomorphometric evaluation.

RESULT:

In both experimental periods, the histological analysis showed new bone formation, especially at the edges of the defects and around remaining biomaterial particles. Histomorphometric analysis showed that the CG contained a higher percentage of bone tissue over the 15-day period compared to that of the other groups. At 60 days, the BBG showed a higher percentage of bone tissue compared to that of the BG (p <0.01).

CONCLUSION:

Lyophilized bovine bone led to greater bone formation compared to bioglass, but none of the biomaterials was superior to blood clot. Moreover, the combination of bioglass and lyophilized bovine bone did not provide an advantage for bone formation.

Histology; bone; bone repair