HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF THE RESORBABLE an‎d TITANIUM SCREWS WHICH USED IN AUTOGENOUS BONE GRAFT ON BONE HEALING

Purpose: Titanium and poly-L-lactide (PLLA) materials are frequently used in oral and orthopedic surgery in order to maintain stabilization and fixation. Complications such as cold sensitivity, radiologic artefacts, corrosion, allergic reactions and stress shielding that can be observed with titanium plates and/or screws may be prevented by using alternative materials such as PLLA substances. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathologic findings of the titanium and PLLA fixation screws on bone healing for autogenous graft fixation. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits. The effects of the titanium and PLLA materials on bone formation was compared with the control group. The animals were sacrified at the 6th weeks following the operation and the samples were evaluated histopathologically. Results: The new bone formation area was found as between %5-30 in the 12.5% of the control group; %30-60 in the 6.3% of the PLLA group, 12.5% of the titanium group and 25% of the control group. 93.8% of the PLLA group, 87.5% of the titanium group and 43.8 of the control group showed greater new bone formation than 60% (p=0.019). Conclusion: Resorbable fixation materials showed enough resistance in stability of the autogenous bone grafts. These materials did not present any the risk of the formation of the inflammation, necrosis and fibrosis. No statistically significant difference was observed regarding the new bone formation between the resorbable fixation materials and the titanium fixation materials.