Micro‐computed tomographic analysis of bone healing subsequent to graft placement

Abstract

A micro-computed tomographic (muCT) analysis of bone healing subsequent to graft (tri calcium phosphate/TCP) placement in the maxillary sinus prior to dental endosteal implant placement was the focus of the current study. Ten trephined rod shaped human bone cores were obtained three months after the placement of particulate graft material. Using the muCT, samples were evaluated at 6 and 20 mum resolutions. The images exhibited regions of different grey scale (GL) magnitudes for bone and graft allowing a differentiation and quantification of the two sample regions. The GL threshold magnitudes at 20 mum resolution were determined to be less than 235 for organic and fluid, 235-450 for bone, 400-600 for bone and graft, and 600 and above for the graft material. The graft material was integrated with the bone showing the osteoconductivity of the TCP material, the mean bone volume was 25.50 (11.28) ranging from 5.66 to 37.9 and the mean graft volume was 0.42 (0.37) ranging from 0.01 to 1.17. The mean graft to bone volume ratio was 0.015 (0.01) with a range from 0.002 to 0.024. The structural data and observations from two- and three-dimensional images provided a valuable assessment of the graft distribution, its relation to modeling bone and also the anatomy of the healing bone. Thus this study demonstrated the capability to uniquely evaluate the status of healing bone associated with this TCP grafting biomaterial with opportunities for subsequent correlations with histomorphometrical studies and clinical outcomes of these type implant treatments.

Guided bone regeneration in standardized calvarial defects using beta-tricalcium phosphate and collagen membrane: a real-time in vivo micro-computed tomographic experiment in rats

“…The following characteristics delineated NFB from the native bone: (1) absence of an organized lamellated appearance of mature bone; (2) increased cellularity and evidence of neovascularization; (3) random arrangement of osteocytes (as compared to being oriented with their long axes parallel to the lamellae in mature bone); and (4) more intense matrix stains with hematoxylin than with eosin (Figs. 3,4,5).…”

“…Based on histological findings in animal models, GBR using b-TCP promotes formation of new bone in osseous defect sites as early as 12 weeks [3,4]. Clinical studies evaluating GBR for maxillary sinus floor augmentation using b-TCP have shown evidence of integration of b-TCP to the native bone and newly formed bone (NFB) after 3 months based upon ex vivo micro-computed tomography (lCT) and histological findings [5,6].…”

“…However, with the use of cutting edge in vivo lCT scanning, real-time assessment of osseous tissue regeneration in live animal models is possible. While histologic and histometric findings are considered the gold standard in assessing tissue regeneration, significant correlation between lCT and histological findings has been reported [5,[21][22][23][24]. Clinicians are often intrigued by the possibility of assessing bone regeneration in a living model.…”

“…The results of previously reported studies [1,3,5,8,9,19,20] were based either on histological analysis or ex vivo lCT findings, wherein outcomes could be assessed only at the given point in time following killing of the study animals. However, with the use of cutting edge in vivo lCT scanning, real-time assessment of osseous tissue regeneration in live animal models is possible.…”

Microcomputed tomography analysis of particular autogenous bone graft in sinus augmentation at 5 months: differences on bone mineral density and 3D trabecular structure

“…Micro-CT has been used as a tool to investigate the 3D architecture of grafted bone [16][17][18][19], and it seems a practical method for investigating the gender differences (if any) in bone mineral density (BMD) and 3D trabecular architecture of grafted bone, especially for older patients. This study also examined the differences of BMD and 3D trabecular structure between the matured autogenous bone graft and the adjacent native bone.…”