The monocortical critical size bone defect as an alternative experimental model in testing bone substitute materials.
BACKGROUND
Reproducibility and comparability are prerequisites in testing bone substitute materials in an animal study. Various animal test models are used. The standard in testing bone substitute materials is the so-called critical size defect (CSD) model described by Schmitz and Hollinger. In most studies a bicortical (full thickness defect) CSD is used.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, monocortical defects (10 x 10 mm) in calvarias of adult pigs were created and compared to examine the spontaneous physiologic healing process and the required criteria for a CSD.


METHODS
Regeneration of defects, either filled using autogenous bone (group 1) or unfilled (group 2), was evaluated by means of microradiography and light microscopy after 2, 4, 12, 26, and 52 weeks.


RESULTS
No complete osseous regeneration was found microradiographically and light microscopically in the control group at week 52 (nonmineralized area: 30% +/- 1.7%; mineralized area: 55% +/- 1.7%; bone marrow area: 15% +/- 1.7%). Defects treated with autogenous bone showed a 100% osseous defect filling after 26 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
The monocortical CSD fulfills the requirements for a CSD and represents a procedure which can be handled simply for investigations focusing on bone regeneration and testing of bone substitute materials.
Schlegel
Karl Andreas
KA
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. andreas.schlegel@mkg.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Lang
Friedemann Johannes
FJ
Donath
Karl
K
Kulow
Jochen Theodor
JT
Wiltfang
Jörg
J
D000818:Animals; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D008422:Materials Testing; D008852:Microradiography; D023421:Models, Animal; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery; D013552:Swine; D014945:Wound Healing
D018786:Bone Substitutes