Summary
Objectives: To evaluate the influence of titanium mesh on guided bone regeneration when used,
either alone or in combination with autogenous bone block graft, in a canine ulnar
model.
Methods: Thirty-two, purpose bred, adult, castrated male Beagles were used, divided into four
equal-size groups. A unilateral middiaphyseal ulnar critical-size defect was created
in each dog. The ulnar segments were stabilized with a stainless-steel plate and screws.
Each defect was managed by: no further treatment (Group A) or by placement of a bone
block graft taken from the ipsilateral iliac crest (Group B), or titanium mesh wrapped
around the ulna (Group C), or a bone block graft and titanium mesh (Group D). After
six months, bone block biopsies were performed and the samples were scanned using
micro-computed tomography. Qualitative histological evaluation was performed on two
non-decalcified longitudinal sections from each block.
Results: No significant differences in terms of mineralized bone volume were detected between
the grafted sites (Groups B and D) or between the non-grafted ones (Groups A and C).
The histological evaluation indicated good integration of the bone blocks irrespective
of the use of titanium mesh.
Clinical significance: The use of titanium mesh does not influence the amount of bone formation. The canine
ulnar critical-size defect model seems to be a reliable model to use in experimental
studies.
Keywords
Titanium mesh - guided bone regeneration - osteometry - ulnar model - canine