Estudio experimental en conejos de un nuevo vidrio bioactivo en la reconstrucción de defectos óseos

Objective: to evaluate the usefulness of a new bioactive glass in bone defect healing in rabbits. Material & Methods: 32 New Zeland rabbits were randomly distributed in two groups of 16: mature and immature respectively . In all of them, a bone defect was performed in the lateral surface of femoral distal epiphysis. A glass bioactive implant was placed in the bone defect of 8 animals in each group. The others served as control. In the immature rabbits, bone defect results as a Type VI physeal injury of Rang. Follow-up was 4 months. A standardised radiographic study was monthly performed, and after sacrifice, a histological and morphometric study on the femora was done. Results: All the animals survived the follow-up. No axial deviations of distal femoral growth were observed in immature rabbits. The tested glass showed an excellent osteointegration in all the animals, with osteoconduction evidence over its surface, accompanying degradation and resorption phenomena, but without deformities of break. Bone healing over the tested bioactive glass was higher in immature rabbitr than in mature animals. The control animals showed a poor bone defect healing, with variations among individuals. Conclusion: The in vivo behaviour of tested bioactive glasas suggests its use as possible bone substitute for cavities filling, implant surfaces, and as drugs vehicle. In growth plate surgery, it should be use as interposition material afeter physeal bone bridges resection.