Powdered eggshell: a pilot study on a new bone substitute for use in maxillofacial surgery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedic Research

Background:

• Bone defects pose significant clinical challenges.
• Autografts and allografts have limitations.
• Novel bone graft substitutes are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate hen's eggshell as a potential bone substitute material.
• To assess the biocompatibility and osteogenic potential of eggshell particles.
• To investigate eggshell's efficacy in critical-size bone defects.

Main Methods:

• Bioassay of eggshell particles in rodent intramuscular pouches.
• Grafting eggshell into rat mandibular and rabbit skull defects.
• Onlay bone grafting of eggshell on rabbit mandibles.
• Histological and morphological evaluation at 2 and 6 months.

Main Results:

• Eggshell particles demonstrated biocompatibility.
• No significant osteoinductive capacity was observed.
• Morphological restoration was achieved in defects, but with fibrous union.
• Onlay grafts showed stability over 6 months.

Conclusions:

• Hen's eggshell is a safe, inexpensive material for limited bone defect filling in non-weight-bearing areas.
• Further research is needed to assess long-term stability for bone augmentation applications.