title: Powdered eggshell: a pilot study on a new bone substitute for use in maxillofacial surgery.
abstract: The present study is a preliminary report on the use of hen's eggshell as a possible bone substitute. In the first part of the study, particles ranging from 400 microns to 600 microns in diameter were bioassayed in an intramuscular pouch in rodents. This material was found to be biocompatible, but appeared not to have osteoinductive capacities. In the second and third part of the study, this material was used as an interpositional graft material in critical-size defects of rat mandibles and rabbit skulls. At 2 months, a morphologic restoration was obtained using the graft, but the healing was only achieved by fibrous union. In the fourth part of the study, the material was experimented on as an onlay bone graft on rabbit mandibles. A 6-month follow-up of the implant confirmed its stability. In conclusion, the use of this safe and inexpensive material is suggested for filling limited bone defects in non-weight-bearing areas. The use of eggshell powder for bone augmentation may also be considered, after further studies, to assess its long-term stability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dupoirieux
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pourquier
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Souyris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000737:chemistry; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011200:Poultry; D011208:Powders; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D011208:Powders