Evaluación de la densidad ósea en defectos óseos palatinos tras injerto de tejido óseo generado mediante ingeniería tisular en conejos

Abstract

Purpose. We have carried out a study to determine the bone density after using artificial autologous bone grafts generated by tissue engineering by means of computed tomography, and to determine the in vivo usefulness of these biomaterials. Methods. Twelve 3-week-old New Zeland White male rabbits were used in this study. Bone substitutes were generated by using adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells. After culture and expansion, osteogenic differentiation was induced and cells were combined with fibrin-agarose biomaterials. This bone substitute was autologously grafted in experimental animals. Three study groups were established: Group I: a 4mm bone defect was created and the autologous bone tissue was implanted, covered by a mucoperiosteal flap. Group II: as a negative control, the same procedure was performed, but without implanting bone tissue. Group III: as a positive control, native non-operated rabbits were used. Bone density was studied 6 months after implantation by using computed tomography, expressed in Hounsfield units, and both sides of the palate -operated and control side- were compared. Results. In group III -positive control-, the bone density was similar in both sides of the palate (p>0.05). In contrast, negative controls corresponding to group II showed a statistically significant bone density difference between the right and the left palate (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between both sides of the palate in group I (p>0.05). Conclusion. Computed tomography and data analysis in Hounsfield units suggest that grafting tissue-engineered bone substitutes contributes to improved bone quality and density in palatal bone defects created in laboratory rabbits.