Distraction osteogenesis in dog with a tooth-borne device: Histological and histomorphometric analysis

The distraction osteogenesis (DO) is the biological process of new bone formation between the surfaces of bone segments gradually separated by incremental traction. However, the lack of solid experimental studies using the tooth-borne distractor does not allow comparing this technique with the classical procedures. This study aimed to establish the effect of two different activation protocols in new bone formation, with a new intraoral tooth-borne device for dog mandibular distraction osteogenesis.

Nine beagle dogs were split into 3 similar groups, Group A the control, Group B subjected to two daily activations of 0.5 mm and Group C subjected to a single daily activation of 1 mm. The distraction period was 10 days followed by a 12 weeks consolidation period. Samples where then processed and embedded in methylmethacrylate and ground to a thickness of 20µm. Toluidine blue stains were done on all specimens and histological and histomorphometric evaluation of bone tissue formed within distraction gap was performed. The statistical analysis in this manuscript was performed with IBM®-SPSS® v.20 statistics software and R software version 3.1.0. The level of significance adopted was 5 % (α=0.05).

No statistically significant difference was detected by histomorphometric evaluation between the two experimental groups in what concerns the bone volume. However, significant differences were found in the coefficients of variation between the medial and buccal areas, and the buccal and lingual areas.

This study shows that the mandible can be lengthened successfully using a tooth-borne distractor. Moreover, it suggested that a decrease from once to twice-daily activations might negatively change the quality and structure of newly formed bone and prompt it to instability. Key words:Retrognathia, bone regeneration, osteogenesis, distraction.