Bone healing in critical-size defects treated with bioactive glass/calcium sulfate: a histologic and histometric study in rat calvaria.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyze histologically the influence of bioactive glass (BG) with or without a calcium sulfate (CS) barrier on bone healing in surgically created critical-size defects (CSD) in rat calvaria.


METHODS
A CSD was made in each calvarium of 48 rats. They were divided into three groups: C (control): blood clot only; BG: defect filled with BG; and BG/CS: defect filled with BG covered by a CS barrier. Animals were euthanized at 4 or 12 weeks. Formation of new bone was evaluated histomorphometrically.


RESULTS
No defect completely regenerated with bone. BG particles were observed in Groups BG and BG/CS at both periods of analysis. The thickness throughout the healing area in Groups BG and BG/CS was similar to the original calvarium, while Group C presented a thin connective tissue in the center of the defect in both periods of analysis. At 4 weeks, Groups C and BG/CS presented significantly more bone formation than Group BG. No significant differences were found between Groups C and BG/CS. At 12 weeks, no significant differences in the amount of bone formation were observed among the three groups. When comparing 4 and 12 weeks, there was a significant increase in new bone formation within groups BG and BG/CS, but not C.


CONCLUSIONS
BG particles, used with or without a CS barrier, maintained the volume and contour of the area grafted in CSD. However, they did not lead to a significant difference in bone formation when compared with control at 12 weeks post-operative.
Furlaneto
Flávia A C
FA
Division of Periodontics, Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic, Dental School of Araçatuba, University of the State of São Paulo Júlio de Mesquita, Filho, UNESP, Brazil.
Nagata
Maria J H
MJ
Fucini
Stephen E
SE
Deliberador
Tatiana M
TM
Okamoto
Tetuo
T
Messora
Michel R
MR
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005898:Glass; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012886:Skull / Q000166:cytology / Q000601:surgery*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C073544:Biogran; D002133:Calcium Sulfate