Role of mechanical compression on bone regeneration around a particulate bone graft material: an experimental study...

This experimental study was designed to analyze the effect of different compressive forces on the bone regeneration around a particulate bone graft material.

Eighty 6-mm-diameter defects were created in the calvaria of 20 New Zealand rabbits (4 defects per rabbit calvaria). All the defects were filled with particles of synthetic bone. Two standardized compressive forces were then applied, 4.1 g to half the defects (Test A) and 8.2 g to the other half (Test B), all for 1 min. The graft sites were allowed to heal for 6 weeks, after which the rabbits were euthanized. The calvarium vault of each animal was extracted, radiographed, and prepared for histomorphometric analysis. The percentage of defect fill, bone density, new bone formation, and residual bone graft material were recorded, and the results were subjected to statistical analysis.

Histological evaluation found that defect closure among the Test A (lower compression) group ranged from 38.34 (95% lower CI) to 55.8 (95% upper CI) (mean 47 ± 8.5%), while among the Test B group (higher compression), it ranged from 81.26 (95% lower CI) to 95.32 (mean 88 ± 7.3%). Significantly more closure was achieved for the Test B group (P < 0.05). Histomorphometric comparison of the two groups found significantly more new bone formation, higher bone density, and a higher percentage of defect fill in the defects subjected to the higher compression level (P < 0.05).

Increasing the compressive force applied to bone graft particulate used to fill small defects created in rabbit calvaria appears to be beneficial.