Guided Bone Regeneration in Calvarial Bone Defects Using Polytetrafluoroethylene Membranes

Abstract

Guided bone regeneration is defined as controlled stimulation of new bone formation in a bony defect, either by osteogenesis, osteoinduction, or osteoconduction, re-establishing both structural and functional characteristics. Bony defects may be found as a result of congenital anomalies, trauma, neoplasms, or infectious conditions. Such conditions are often associated with severe functional and esthetic problems. Corrective treatment is often complicated by limitations in tissue adaptations. The aim of the investigation was to compare histologically the amount of bone formed in an experimentally created parietal bone defect protected with one or two polytetrafluoroethylene membranes with a contralateral control defect. A bony defect was created bilaterally in the parietal bone lateral to the sagittal suture in 29 6-month-old male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into two groups: (1) In the double membrane group (n=9), the left experimental bone defect was protected by an outer polytetrafluoroethylene membrane under the periosteum and parietal muscles and an inner membrane between the dura mater and the parietal bone. (2) In the single membrane group (n=20), only the outer membrane was placed. The right defect was not covered with any membrane and served as control. The animals were killed after 30 days. None of the control defects demonstrated complete or partial bone regeneration. In the single membrane group, the experimental site did not regenerate in 15 animals, partially in four, and completely in one. In the double membrane group, six of the experimental defects had complete closure with bone, two had partial closure, and one no closure. The use of two membranes protecting the bone edges of the parietal defect from the overlying tissues and underlying brain enhanced bone regeneration in experimental calvarial bone defects. The biologic role of the dura mater may not be of critical importance in new bone regeneration in these calvarial bone defects.