title: Influence of a titanium mesh on the management of segmental long bone defects. An experimental study in a canine ulnar model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of titanium mesh on guided bone regeneration when used, either alone or in combination with autogenous bone block graft, in a canine ulnar model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two, purpose bred, adult, castrated male Beagles were used, divided into four equal-size groups. A unilateral mid-diaphyseal ulnar critical-size defect was created in each dog. The ulnar segments were stabilized with a stainless-steel plate and screws. Each defect was managed by: no further treatment (Group A) or by placement of a bone block graft taken from the ipsilateral iliac crest (Group B), or titanium mesh wrapped around the ulna (Group C), or a bone block graft and titanium mesh (Group D). After six months, bone block biopsies were performed and the samples were scanned using micro-computed tomography. Qualitative histological evaluation was performed on two non-decalcified longitudinal sections from each block.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in terms of mineralized bone volume were detected between the grafted sites (Groups B and D) or between the non-grafted ones (Groups A and C). The histological evaluation indicated good integration of the bone blocks irrespective of the use of titanium mesh.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of titanium mesh does not influence the amount of bone formation. The canine ulnar critical-size defect model seems to be a reliable model to use in experimental studies.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Sofia Zoi, Veterinary Clinic of Larissa, Polytechniou 208, Larissa 41222, Greece, Phone: +30 693 2609 161, E-mail: vetcli1@otenet.gr.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Zoi
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Galatos
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Prassinos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Psalla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalstra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stavropoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D004285:Dogs; D005552:Forelimb; D016268:Internal Fixators / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology*; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000662:veterinary*; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium
keywords: Titanium mesh; canine; guided bone regeneration; osteometry; ulnar model