title: Influence of bone marrow on osseointegration in long bones: an experimental study in sheep.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of yellow bone marrow on osseointegration of titanium oral implants using a long bone model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The two tibiae of eight sheep were used as experimental sites. Two osteotomies for implant installation were prepared in each tibia. At the control sites, no further treatments were performed while, at the test sites, bone marrow was removed from the osteotomy site with a curette to an extent that exceeded the implant dimensions. As a result, the apical portion of the implants at the control sites was in contact with bone marrow while, at the test sites, it was in contact with the blood clot. After 2 months, the same procedures were performed in the contralateral side. After another month, the animal was sacrificed. Ground sections were obtained for histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 1 month of healing, no differences between test and control sites were found in the apical extension of osseointegration and the percentage of new bone-to-implant contact. However, after 3 months of healing, a higher percentage of new bone-to-implant contact was found at the test compared to the control sites in the marrow compartment. The apical extension of osseointegration, however, was similar to that found at the 1-month healing period both for test and control sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Osseointegration appeared to be favored by the presence of a blood clot when compared to the presence of yellow fatty bone marrow. Moreover, the contact with cortical bone appeared to be a prerequisite for the osseointegration process in the long bone model.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medical Science, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: Niklaus P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bengazi
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baffone
authors.forename: C Dadonim
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Vila Morales
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Botticelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000502:physiology*; D015921:Dental Implants; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology*; D010027:Osteotomy; D034561:Sheep, Domestic; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D014025:Titanium
keywords: animal study; bone formation; bone marrow; implant dentistry; long bones; osseointegration