Bone Resorption in Demineralized Bone Matrix and Autogenous Bone Graft

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the bone resorption in the combined use of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) and autogenous cortical bone grafts in rat. Methods: 48 male Wistar rats were used. They were divided into two groups: control and experimental group. Both control and experimental groups were followed-up for 2, 4, and 12 weeks respectively. In the femur of the rats, autogenous cortical bone grafts 3 mm in diameter and 2 mm in height were harvested with standart trephine bur. The bone defects 3 mm in diameter and 2 mm in height were created. They were 5mm far from donor site. The graft was placed in the bone defect and stabilized by perifemoral wiring. In the experimental group, bovine derived, 75 mg gel form DBM (Grafton, Osteotech, Shrewsbury, NJ, U.S.A.) was applied locally in the bone defect before the positioning of the graft. 6ƒÝm thick sections were prepared longitudinally in the junctions between autogenous cortical bone graft and host bone. The number of the osteoclasts was counted and the number and size of resorptive lacunae per specimen were evaluated as an indicative of bone resorption in a tissue area of 250 ƒÝm2. For analysis of differences between the control and experimental group, Mann-Whitney's U-test was applied. Results: Significant reduction in the number of osteoclasts and resorptive lacunae revealed the pronounced suppression of the graft resorption in the experimental group. Conclusions: Histological results of the present study showed that DBM decreased bone resorption in the autogenous cortical bone grafts.