A Study Of Bone Replacement In The White Rat Using Mid-Fibular Collagen Implants And Variations In Diet

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that implants of collagen, decalcified allqenic bone matrix, and polyethylene tubing aided bone replacement in surgically created fracture gaps. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of diet on bone replacement in albino laboratory rats when usinq a polyethylene tubing implant into which collagen was placed. The site of implantation was the mid-fibular region. Fracture gaps of four and seven centimeters were used to study the effect on the rate of bone regeneration. Each gap was tested against three diets, high, middle, and normal. The animals were fed the diet for a specified time and sacrificed to examine the implant. Methods to study the rate of regeneration were tested previous to sacrifice.