Research
Characterization of bone repair in rat femur after treatment with calcium phosphate cement and autogenous bone graft
1 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Hospital de Clinicas de P.A., School of Dentistry, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2 Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
3 School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
4 Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
5 The School of Engineering of Materials and School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Head & Face Medicine 2010, 6:10 doi:10.1186/1746-160X-6-10
Published: 28 June 2010Abstract
Background
In this study, the biocompatibility, stability and osteotransductivity of a new cement based on alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) were investigated in a bone repair model using a rat model.
Methods
The potential of alpha-TCP on bone repair was compared to autogenous bone grafting, and unfilled cavities were used as negative control. Surgical cavities were prepared and designated as test (T), implanted with alpha-TCP blocks; negative control (C - ), unfilled; and positive control (C + ), implanted with autogenous bone graft. Results were analyzed on postoperative days three, seven, 14, 21 and 60.
Results
The histological analyses showed the following results. Postoperative day three: presence of inflammatory infiltrate, erythrocytes and proliferating fibroblasts in T, C - and C + samples. Day seven: extensive bone neoformation in groups T and C + , and beginning of alpha-TCP resorption by phagocytic cells. Days 14 and 21: osteoblastic activity in the three types of cavities. Day 60: In all samples, neoformed bone similar to surrounding bone. Moderate interruption on the ostectomized cortical bone.
Conclusions
Bone neoformation is seen seven days after implantation of alpha-TCP and autogenous bone. Comparison of C - with T and C + samples showed that repair is faster in implanted cavities; on day 60, control groups presented almost complete bone repair. Alpha-TCP cement presents biocompatibility and osteotransductivity, besides stability, but 60 days after surgery the cavities were not closed.
