Three phase bone scintigraphy in evaluating revascularization and bone formation of natural biomaterial bone graft by using Tc99m MDP in rabbits

Abstract

Three phase bone scintigraphy (TPBS) examined the viability of bone graft, revascularization, and bone formation using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and the intravenous injection of 99M Technetium methylenediphosphonate (99MTc-MDP). Seven New Zealand White rabbits, aged 8 months had osteotomy of ulna performed, the left ulna substituted for natural biomaterial bone graft, containing gelatin sponge and hyaluronic acid, and the right ulna was replaced by vascularized autogenous bone graft. A post-operative scanning of bone using TPBS was done at 7 days and weekly, at week 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 to evaluate revascularization and bone formation of natural biomaterial bone graft comparing with autogenous bone graft. The results demonstrated that the perfusion index and RCP of natural biomaterial bone graft and the autogenous bone graft in phases 1, 2, and 3 had no statistically significant difference when compared in between each week. The study also showed that, the ratio of the mean counts/pixel of the natural biomaterial bone graft in phase 3 had slightly lower than autogenous bone graft. This study provided model through which TPBS could evaluate revascularization and bone formation in this model. Natural biomaterial bone graft may be the same and as good a revascularization as autogenous bone graft although the bone formation of autogenous bone graft still has more efficiency than natural biomaterial bone.