Radiographic evaluation of critical bone defect

Objectives: Evaluate bone regeneration in critical defects in rat calvaria, by digital and digitized radiography. Methods: Critical bone defects were made in rat calvaria. A total of 45 wistar rats were distributed in nine groups, with five animals in each: I – No biomaterial were used; II – Critical defects were fulfilled with microsphere of hydroxyapatite (HA); III – Critical defects were fulfilled with fibrin sealant (Tissucol®); IV – HA and fibrin sealant were used. Groups V to VIII received the same biomaterials that groups I to IV, respectively. However it was added strontium ranelate (Protos®) in the diet of these animals. Finally, group IX, control group, used to evaluate bone density in healthy animals. After 45 days of surgery, animals were sacrificed and radiographs were made using DenOptix QST® and Insight film, and evaluated by means of pixels value and aluminum equivalent millimeters. Results: the highest means were observed in groups II and VI (p≤0.05) and the lowest in groups III, VII and IX (p≤0.05) for both methods of image. In DenOptix QST®, groups I and V had lower scores than groups II and VI (p≤0.05). Strontium ranelate did not increase bone density for both methods (p>0.05), as for the use of HA and fibrin sealant, the means were lower than for the use of HA alone (p>0.05). There was a great variation between the means obtained for all groups in both image system (p≤0.05). By means of aluminum equivalent millimeters a similar behavior was observed, however groups II and VI had the highest means than any other group (p≤0.05). Conclusion: For pixels means value and aluminum equivalent millimeters the highest values were in groups that received HA. However, aluminum equivalent millimeters detected subtle differences among groups. Strontium ranelate mixed in the diet did not increase bone density.