Sea-shells as bone-filling material: Histological observations

ABSTRACT

This research aims to study the biocompatibility of two types of seashell materials Tellina Planata [TP] and Pinctada Radiata [PR] and compare it to Bio-Coral[R] [BC] material of 450 micro [Inoteb, Saint-Quen, France]. As a first step, the three materials were analyzed by X-Ray-Diffraction, polarograhy, the degree of solubility and acidity [pH] were also investigated. The surface was also checked using scanning electron microscopy. The second step consisted in testing these materials on animals. Twenty-seven rabbits, aged between 4 and 6 months, were divided into three experimental groups of nine rabbits each. First group a standard bone-filling material BC was used. TP was used in group two and PR was implanted in group three. The rabbits were sacrificed at 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Tissue sections 5 micro m thick were prepared, decalcified, stained, and studied under light microscopy. Histological observations after three months revealed new bone formation in contact with the three bone-filling materials, the degree of repair and calcification being similar. The Mann-Whitney and Kruskall-Wallis tests revealed no significant statistical differences between the three groups