Bone Defect Healing by Nonabsorbable Membrane for Guided Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

This study was investigated whether bone regeneration is improved in the healing of experimental osseous defects with subperiosteal membranes. Muscle/periosteal flaps were raised, and 4.5-mm osseous defects were created bilaterally in the tibiae of ten rabbits. On the test side, a silicone membrane was placed over the defect, and the flaps were sutured outside the membrane. The defect on the contralateral side served as a control (no membrane). After healing periods of 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks the animals were killed, and 15 pm hematoxylin-eosin-stained, undecalcified sections were prepared and examined histologically. The results suggest that the subperiosteal membrane keeps the osteogenic tissue structurally stable so that osteogenesis remains functionally stable during the early stages of healing.