The effect on osteogenesis of type I collagen applied to experimental bone defects

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of type I collagen sponge on the healing of bone defects. In this study, six adult male rabbits were used. After the induction of general anesthesia with intraperitoneal kethamine, the anterior surfaces of tibias of the rabbits were surgically exposed, and two holes with 4 mm in diameter were prepared on each tibia for the investigation. Only one hole in each tibia was filled with type I collagen, the other unfilled hole was used as control. During the study, radiopacity changes in the radiographs of the tibias of the rabbits were evaluated. The animals were killed on the 28th day, and histologic sections of the tibias were prepared. On the 28th day, it was histopathologically observed that collagen cavities were filled with new bone. In addition, it was determined that there was an increase in radiopacity of the defect areas from 14 to 28 days in both groups, and there were statistically a significant difference between control and collagen groups (P = 0.0001). In this study, consequently, it was determined that type I collagen sponge in the experimental cavities provides a more rapid regeneration of bone defects compared with non-filled cavities.