title: Reconstruction of cranial bone defects using Struthio camelus eggshell.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are many synthetic materials for the treatment of bone defects, which have their own advantages and disadvantages. We aimed to compare the efficacy of ostrich eggshell, which is cheap and easily available, and demineralized bone matrix in healing of cranial bone defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A full-thickness circular bone defect was created in the frontal bone of 40 Wistar rats. Group 1 was the operative control group. In group 2, demineralized bone matrix applied into the defects; in group 3, Struthio camelus (ostrich) eggshell implants (OSIs) were applied into the defects; and in group 4, ostrich eggshell powders were applied into the defects. Computed tomographic analysis was performed to evaluate the healing of bone defects, the bone density, the OSI area measurements, and the OSI volume and density. At the end of the 24th week, all rats were killed. New bone formation, infection, resorption, and tissue reactions were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ostrich eggshell implants were slightly resorbed, integrated with bone, stable, and supplied good cranial completeness. Ostrich eggshell powders were totally resorbed at the sixth month. There were no significant differences between control and ostrich eggshell groups in new bone formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ostrich eggshell did not seem to be an osteoproductive material, but it has some important advantages as an implant. Ostrich eggshell has a strong structure, is cheap, is shaped easily, and does not cause tissue reaction or infection. Ostrich eggshell could be a good alternative graft material for craniomaxillofacial procedures. Further studies are required to find out the potential use of the ostrich eggshell in craniomaxillofacial reconstructions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. safakuygur@gmail.com
authors.forename: Safak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uygur
authors.forename: Selahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozmen
authors.forename: Sebahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kandal
authors.forename: Nese
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lortlar
authors.forename: Suna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omeroglu
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arac
authors.forename: Seyhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cenetoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D015519:Bone Density; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D020310:Struthioniformes; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes