Histopathological evaluation of aragonitic calcium carbonate as a bone graft substitute in rabbit's mandible : an experimental study

Abstract EN

Background : Augmentation of the craniomaxillofacial region is required for many aesthetic and reconstructive procedures.

Many bone grafts substitutes have been developed .These products differ in their osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties .The use of bone graft substitutes offers the ability to lessen the possible morbidity of the harvest site inautograft.

Aragonitic calcium carbonate has proved to have biocompatible properties as bone graft substitute.

This study aimed to evaluate the histopathological effects of aragonitic calcium carbonate in experimentally induced bone defect in rabbit's mandible. Material and method : Twenty five adult male healthy rabbits were used in current study.

Two holes were prepared in the rabbit's mandible, first hole remain empty as control, the second filled with aragonitic calcium carbonate. Samples were taken after 2, 6, 8, 12 and 24 weeks.

Histopathological evaluation include; examination of new bone formation and inflammatory response, in both control and experimental groups. Results : At 2 weeks, there was no new bone formation in both defects with moderate amount of inflammation.

At 6, 12 and 24 weeks the amount of new bone formation in implant group was more than that formed in control group (statistically highly significant correlation, p < 0.01).

At 8 weeks, less bone amount in implant group .There were marked degradation of implant particles at 6 weeks. Conclusions : ACC is suitable bone graft substitute and induce new bone formation by acting as bioactive, osteoconductive bone graft when come in contact with bone.