The healing of cranial defects by demineralized osseous implants: a radiographic, histological and radioisotope-uptake study in rats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate by different techniques the healing effect of demineralized allogeneic bone in parietal cranial defects in rats. 45Ca incorporation was measured for nine consecutive weeks in groups of control and implanted rats. Repeated 99mTc MDP uptake measurements were performed for nine weeks on the same group of rats. Each measurement was preceded by a cranial radiography. At the end of the study the animals were sacrificed for histologic evaluation. The results of the 45Ca incorporation, 99mTc MDP uptake measurements and the histologic pictures confirmed the osteogenic capacity of demineralized allogenic bone. From the results it can concluded that 99mTc MDP uptake measurements are a powerful tool in the evaluation of the healing process. It can be utilized sequentially in the same animal and gives detailed information about the progress of osteogenic activity over the entire implant area.