Evaluation of particulate Bioglass in a rabbit radius ostectomy model

Osseous defects and fractures may require supplimentation to support and promote healing. Bioglass (BG) may be a useful therapeutic for these conditions. Therefore, we executed a study to determine whether particulate BG could promote healing of 20-mm unilateral ostectomies in the radius of rabbits. Ostectomies were either treated with BG or remained untreated in the control (CTL) group. At 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment, ostectomies were assessed histomorphometrically and biomechanically. New bone formation was more intense contiguous to the host bone for both BG and CTL than centrally, yet BG animals displayed active mineralization throughout the ostectomy. The amount of bone within BG-filled defects was greater than CTLs at 4 weeks, whereas, at 8 weeks there was no difference. Biomechanically, the BG-treated limbs required more torque to break than did CTL limbs at 4 weeks; however differences were not significantly different. By 8 weeks, the BG-treated and CTLs, had comparable strength. Bioglass may be a useful therapy to produce the early phase of osseous repair. However, improvements in handling properties of the particles will be needed to enhance efficacy.