A nasal critical-size defect: an experimental model for the evaluation of facial osseous repair techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To create a standardized nonhealing defect of craniofacial, minimal load-bearing, endochondral type bone with geometric properties that are amenable to quantitative and biomechanical testing that can be used to develop new osteoconductive and osteoinductive engineering repair techniques.


METHODS
Before-and-after randomized trial of an anatomical description.


METHODS
Twenty-four retired male breeder Sprague-Dawley rats.


METHODS
A standardized osseous defect was created by removing the nasal bones with a cutting burr to the level of the nasal mucosal membranes. The defects were not repaired, and groups of 8 animals were examined using planimetry, computed tomographic scanning, and histological analysis at 1, 3, and 6 months following surgery to quantify defect repair.


RESULTS
Mean repair rate by surface area measurements at 1, 3, and 6 months was 5.75%, 4.89%, and 7.09%, respectively. Results from histological analysis revealed that the defects were filled with fibrous tissue. Computed tomographic scans showed the bone defect without repair.


CONCLUSIONS
This nasal osseous defect fulfills criteria to be considered as a critical-size defect that can be used to investigate new techniques for bone reconstruction.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, USA. whl5r@virginia.edu
W H
WH
Lindsey
D A
DA
Franz
J S
JS
Toung
S D
SD
London
R O
RO
Ogle
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors