Research

Histological evaluation of the influence of magnetic field application in autogenous bone grafts in rats

Edela Puricelli¹ , Nardier B Dutra² and Deise Ponzoni¹

¹  Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Hospital de Clinicas de P.A., School of Dentistry, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

²  School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

author email corresponding author email

Head & Face Medicine 2009, 5:1doi:10.1186/1746-160X-5-1

Published:	11 January 2009

Abstract

Background

Bone grafts are widely used in oral and maxillofacial reconstruction. The influence of electromagnetic fields and magnets on the endogenous stimulation of target tissues has been investigated. This work aimed to assess the quality of bone healing in surgical cavities filled with autogenous bone grafts, under the influence of a permanent magnetic field produced by in vivo buried devices.

Methods

Metal devices consisting of commercially pure martensitic stainless steel washers and titanium screws were employed. Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into 3 experimental and 3 control groups. A surgical bone cavity was produced on the right femur, and a bone graft was collected and placed in each hole. Two metallic washers, magnetized in the experimental group but not in the control group, were attached on the borders of the cavity.

Results

The animals were sacrificed on postoperative days 15, 45 and 60. The histological analysis of control and experimental samples showed adequate integration of the bone grafts, with intense bone neoformation. On days 45 and 60, a continued influence of the magnetic field on the surgical cavity and on the bone graft was observed in samples from the experimental group.

Conclusion

The results showed intense bone neoformation in the experimental group as compared to control animals. The intense extra-cortical bone neoformation observed suggests that the osteoconductor condition of the graft may be more susceptible to stimulation, when submitted to a magnetic field.