Value of color Doppler ultrasonography and radiography for the assessment of the cancellous bone scaffold coated with nano-hydroxyapatite in repair of radial bone in rabbit

PURPOSE: To evaluate the osteo-regenerative capacity of proprietary bone grafting material as a bone defect filler and osteogenetic stimulation to speed up bone healing too. METHODS: Eighteen adult male New Zealand white rabbits were anesthetized and a segmental full thickness bone defect of 10 mm in length was created in the middle of the right radial shaft in all rabbits. They were divided into two groups of 9 rabbits. Group I was considered as control and the fractured site was fixed using finger bone plate with 4 screws, whereas the cancellous bone scaffold coated with Nano-Hydroxyapatite was used to fill the gap after fracture fixation in Group II. Radiography, two dimensional and color Doppler ultrasonography were done before and after creating defects and on 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days to evaluate local reaction as far as new blood vessels network and callus formation are observed. RESULTS: On the radiographs during the whole process, bone repair in Group I was not as perfect as those in Group II samples and trace of internal callus filled the gap incompletely in 60 days in Group I, whereas in Group II internal callus almost was formed on 30 days and in addition intercortical callus was seen supporting to cover and filled the gap completely in this group in 60 day; Sonographic findings confirmed the protrusion of newly formed blood vascular network in 30 days in Group I and from 15 days in Group II and remarkably increased till end of observation period. CONCLUSIONS: The nano-hydroxyapatite with more features and shorter in time, made possible the reconstruction of bone tissue and alternative techniques as well as previous bone graft, also radiography and ultrasonography are reliable techniques to trace local reaction at proper time.