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Updated: Nov 4, 2025
Calvarial Model of Bone Augmentation in Rabbit for Assessment of Bone Growth and Neovascularization in Bone Substitution Materials
Published on: August 13, 2019
Three-dimensional printed poly (L-lactide) and hydroxyapatite composite for reconstruction of critical bone defect in
Bruno Watanabe Minto1, Arícia Gomes Sprada2, José Aloizio Gonçalves Neto3
1Assistant Professor. Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" - Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences - Department of Clinical and Veterinary Surgery - Jaboticabal (SP), Brazil.
Purpose:
To use a 3D printed poly (L-lactide) acid (PLLA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) composite as a bone substitute for reconstruction of a critical bone defect in the radius of rabbits.
Methods:
A 1.5 cm ostectomy was performed in the radial diaphysis of 60 New Zealand white rabbits. The rabbits were divided into three groups according to surgical treatment of the bone defect (group I - control, group II - bone graft, group III - 3D PLLA). Each group was divided into four subgroups with different radiographic and histopathologic evaluation times (T1 - 15 days, T2 - 30 days, T3 - 60 days, T4 - 90 days).
Results:
The implant group had greater clinically lameness (p = 0.02), edema (p = 0.007), pain (p = 0.04) and more complications at the surgical site (p = 0.03). Histologically, this group showed greater congestion (p = 0.04), hemorrhage (p = 0.04) and inflammation. Osteogenesis was microscopically similar between days (p = 0.54) and treatments (p = 0.17), even though radiographically, more effective bone healing occurred in the graft group (II), with more callus and bone bridge formation.
Conclusions:
The customization of a 3D PLLA/HA scaffold was successful. However, in animals receiving the polymer-ceramic composite less bone callus and bone bridge was formed compared to the graft group.
