Histomorphometric evaluation of the effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on healing around hydroxyapatite implants in irradiated rat bone

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on the tissue reaction around hydroxy apatite (HA) implants in irradiated bone of rats was investigated. A single dose of 15 Cy was delivered to the right leg of 20 rats. HA implants were placed in the bilateral tibial proximal metaphysis 3 months after irradiati on. HBO was administered to half of the rats before and after 15-Gy irradia tion. The healing process was examined histologically and histomorphometric ally. The results indicated that HBO slightly improved trabecular bone form ation in the irradiated bone, accelerated bone remodeling in the nonirradia ted bone, and improved HA-bone contact in both the irradiated and nonirradi ated bones.