Histomorphometric study on the influence of steroid topical irrigation and implant surface on bone healing in the irradiated rabbit tibia

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the influence of Steroid topical irrigation and implant surface on bone healing in the irradiated rabbit tibia. Implant to bone contact surface ratio and the pattern of bone healing around hydroxyapatite(HA) coated implant and pure titanium (Ti) implant which were inserted into the irradiated rabbit tibia were compared. 16 Korean house mature male rabbits were used as experimental animal. Each rabbit received 15 Gy of irradiation. 4 weeks after the irradiation, two holes were prepared in the irradiated tibia of each rabbits, where two surface type of implants were inserted1) HA coated type and 2) pure Ti type. Right before placing implants, one group of rabbit received steroid irrigation and the other group did saline. After the irrigation, two implants of HA coated type and pure Ti type were inserted into the tibia of each rabbits. Each rabbit were sacrificed at 2nd, 4th, and 8th week after the implantation and the specimens were observed by the light microscope. The pattern of bone healing and histomorphometric analysis of the implant-bone interface were done. The results were as follows. 1. All implants inserted into the irradiated tibia of rabbit did not show any sign of clinical mobility and the bone around implants inserted into the irradiated tibia of rabbit did not show any resorption. 2. The bone to implant contact surface ratio around HA coated implants that received steroid irrigation got more bone to implant contact surface ratio than that of the saline irrigation. This result showed statistically significant(p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in 8th week group. 3. Though there was no statistically significant difference HA coated implants had more bone to implant contact surface ratio than pure Ti implant in 2nd and 4th groups, and there was no difference in 8th week group. 4. All implants inserted into the irradiated tibia of rabbit had exhibited successful osseointegraion.