Influences of mechanical barrier permeability on guided bone augmentation in the rat calvarium

Bone union-promoting effect of romosozumab in an ovariectomized rat posterolateral lumbar fusion model

Spinal fixation surgery has been increasingly performed in patients with osteoporosis. Romosozumab, a drug that was introduced in Japan recently, is known to possibly promote bone healing. However, few studies have reported the therapeutic effects of romosozumab in clinical practice in Japan. Therefore, here, we investigated the effects of romosozumab dosage on bone fusion promotion using an ovariectomized rat spinal fusion model. Eight-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were matched by body weight and divided into three groups: 1.0 romosozumab (R) group (Evenity®, 25 mg/kg), 1/10R group (Evenity®, 2.5 mg/kg), and control (C) group (saline). Subcutaneous injections were administered twice a week for 8 weeks postoperatively. Computed tomography scans were performed every 2 weeks from the time of surgery till 8 weeks postoperatively. The mean fusion rates in terms of volume were significantly higher in the R groups [1/10R, 1.0R] than in the C group from 4 weeks postoperatively. The rate of increase was significantly higher in the 1.0R group from 4 weeks postoperatively and in the 1/10R group from 6 weeks postoperatively, than in the C group. The proportion of trabecular bone area was approximately 1.5 times higher in the R groups than in the C group. No significant differences were observed between the R groups. Our results suggest that romosozumab stimulates bone growth at the graft site, and similar effects were achieved at 1/10 of the standard dosage.

Influence of Different Porosities of Titanium Meshes on Bone Neoformation: Pre-Clinical Animal Study with Microtomographic and Histomorphometric Evaluation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different types of porosity of titanium meshes on the bone neoformation process in critical defects surgically created in rat calvaria, by means of microtomographic and histomorphometric analyses. Defects of 5 mm in diameter were created in the calvaria of 36 rats, and the animals were randomly treated and divided into the following groups (6 animals per group): NCOG (negative control, only blood clot), TEMG (Polytetrafluoroethylene-PTFE-membrane), SPTMG (small pore titanium mesh), SPMMG (small pore mesh + PTFE), LPTMG (large pore titanium mesh), and LPMMG (large pore mesh + PTFE). After 60 days, the animals were sacrificed, and the bone tissue formed was evaluated with micro-CT and histomorphometry. The data were compared using an ANOVA followed by the Tukey post-test (p ≤ 0.05). The microtomographic results showed that the SPTMG group presented the highest numerical value for bone volume/total volume (22.24 ± 8.97), with statistically significant differences for all the other groups except LPTMG. Considering the histomorphometric evaluation, groups with only porous titanium meshes showed higher values compared to the groups that used the PTFE membrane and the negative control. The SPTMG group presented higher values in the parameters of area (0.44 mm2 ± 0.06), extension (1.19 mm2 ± 0.12), and percentage (7.56 ± 1.45%) of neoformed bone. It was concluded that titanium mesh with smaller pores showed better results and that the association of PTFE membranes with titanium meshes did not improve the outcomes, suggesting a correlation between mesh porosity and underlying bone repair.

Bone union-promoting effect of romosozumab in a rat posterolateral lumbar fusion model

This study investigated the effect of romosozumab on bone union in a rat posterolateral lumbar fixation model. Posterolateral lumbar fixation was performed on 8-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 20). For bone grafting, autogenous bone (40 mg) was harvested from the spinous processes of the 10th thoracic vertebra until the 2nd lumbar vertebra and implanted between the intervertebral joints and transverse processes of the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae on both sides. Rats were matched by body weight and equally divided into two groups: R group (Evenity®, 25 mg/kg) and control (C) group (saline). Subcutaneous injections were administered twice a week until 8 weeks after surgery. Computed tomography was performed at surgery and week 8 after surgery. The area and percentage of bone trabeculae in the total area of bone fusion were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using an unpaired t test (p < 0.05). We found that the R group rats had significantly higher mean bone union rate and volume than did the C group rats at all time courses starting week 4 after surgery. The R group had significantly higher increase rates than did the C group at weeks 4 and 6 after surgery. The percentage of bone trabeculae area in the R group was approximately 1.7 times larger than that in the C group. Thus, we demonstrated that romosozumab administration has stimulatory effects on bony outgrowth at bone graft sites. We attribute this to the modeling effect of romosozumab.

Comparison of Macro-and Micro-porosity of a Titanium Mesh for Guided Bone Regeneration: An In Vivo Experimental Study

BACKGROUND/AIM

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is one of the surgical methods used for vertical ridge augmentation prior to dental implant placements. Titanium meshes have been used for osteogenic space maintenance in GBR sites by clinicians. We aimed to compare the influence of micropores and macropores in a titanium mesh on bone regeneration in a rat calvarial vertical GBR model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The calvaria of nine rats were exposed, and plastic cylinders were set bilaterally. Eighteen surgical sites were randomly allocated into three groups according to the materials of titanium lid and bone substitutes: microporous titanium lid+deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM), macroporous titanium lid +DBBM, microporous titanium lid+carbonate apatite. Newly generated bone inside the cylinders was evaluated using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Furthermore, bone regeneration and angiogenesis were evaluated histologically at 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Quantitative volumetric analyses using micro-CT showed a gradual increase in bone volume inside the cylinders in all three groups. Histological observation confirmed vigorous bone regeneration in the microporous groups compared to that in the macroporous group. In the upper part of the cylinders, soft tissue invaded the GBR site by passing through the pores of the macroporous mesh. The blood vessels in the upper part of the cylinders were smaller in the microporous groups than in the macroporous group. There was no difference in bone formation between cylinders filled with DBBM or carbonate apatite.

CONCLUSION

Microvasculature penetrates 50-μm diameter micropores and accelerates bone formation inside the cylinder, which was set on rat calvaria. The microporous titanium mesh can facilitate angiogenesis from both the dura mater and periosteal in vertical ridge augmentation. Our data showed superiority of microporous titanium vascular permeability and osteoconductivity, supporting bone growth.