Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the augmentation process and ability of autogenous bone graft particles of two different sizes in a vertical augmentation chamber.
Material and methods: The cranial bones of 24 rabbits were used. Two polytetrafluoroethylene chambers were filled with harvested bone from tibia with small bone (SB; 150-400 microm) and large bone (LB; 1.0-2.0 mm) of the same weight. Animals were sacrificed after 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The samples were analyzed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for quantitative analysis, and embedded in polyester resin as non-decalcified specimens for histological analysis. Total bone volume (TBV), bone height (BH) and distribution of bone structure were calculated by micro-CT.
Results: Micro-CT evaluation and histology revealed a significant difference between the investigated specimens. TBV and BH of SB decreased to about 50% of the initial situation, and there was a statistically significant difference between 1 and 8 weeks. In contrast, TBV and BH of LB were almost retained at all experimental time points. Significant differences in TBV and BH were also observed between LB and SB at 8 weeks. Bone volume of SB decreased predominantly in the upper half of the chamber at 4 and 8 weeks. In the histological observations, SB showed favorable new bone formation and rapid bone resorption in a time-dependent manner during the entire experimental period. However, LB exhibited favorable morphological stability and continued new bone formation.
Conclusion: SB follows a smooth osteogenic process, whereas it is not effective in volume augmentation. LB is superior to SB in augmentation ability.