Morphological aspect of the interface between the composite, made of chitosan and polymethylmethacrylate, and bone failure of the rabbit tibia

Orthopedic diseases with bone loss are challenging in both veterinary and human medicine. The aim of this investigation was to analyze and compare the reactions at the interface between the composite, made of chitosan and polymethylmethacrylate, and the bone defect (receptor site) of the rabbits tibia through radiological and microscopic techniques and by scanning electron microscopy, in different periods. Twelve adult New Zealand rabbits were divided into four experimental groups (E1, n=3; E2, n=3; E3, n=3 and E4, n=3), which had the right tibial bone defects filled with the composite, and evaluated in the immediate postoperative, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. Composite implanted in the tibia of rabbits, only two remained in their beds receivers, while the remaining were encapsulated in the subcutaneous tissue. Spheres of chitosan present in the biomaterial that has been deployed and were in direct contact with the bone defect, were preserved, however, were not integrated into the bone tissue. Therefore, to understand the behavior of chitosan as a bone substitute, further research is needed.