Bone formation of transplanted autologous bone matrix in rabbit evaluated by technetium radionuclide bone imaging

In adult rabbits a 12 mm piece of the radius was bilaterally resected and subsequently decalcified. One piece was placed in one of the radial defects and the other in a skin tube on the back. The other radial defect served as a control. The bone formation process was evaluated by roentgenographic examination and quantified radionuclide bone imaging by technetium diphosphonate scintigraphy at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Reliability of the scintigraphy method was assessed by means of testing interexamination variability where the same sample was measured twice and where no significant difference was found. In the defect restituted with decalcified bone matrix there was a significantly (p less than 0.01) higher bone formation rate at 3 months postoperatively, with a mean increase of 47% compared to the control side. In the skin tube the implanted matrix showed mineral formation both at 3 and 6 months postoperatively and increased radionuclide uptake compared to the adjacent tissues. Technitium radionuclide imaging was found to be a suitable method for evaluation of the bone formation in these small defects.