Ostrich eggshell as a bone substitute: a preliminary report of its biological behaviour in animals - a possibility in facial reconstructive surgery

The aim of this study was to assess the biological behaviour of an implant of ostrich eggshell in various animal models of facial bone reconstruction. The implant was first bioassayed in a rat muscle pouch (n=10), and then te sted as an interpositional graft in rat (n=10) and rabbit (n=5) cranial def ects, It mas finally used as an onlay graft on rabbit mandibles (n=5), Anim als were killed after two months in the bioassay; three months in the inter positional model, and sis months in the onlay model. The specimens were stu died by contact radiography and standard histological techniques, All anima ls showed normal, wound-healing. In the bioassay, the implants produced onl y a minimal inflammatory reaction. In the interpositional model, the implan ts maintained a good contour, but there was no sign of graft-remodelling. I n the onlay model, the grafts were sable and partly osteointegrated. The on lay graft model gave the most promising results. Because ostrich eggshell i s inexpensive and has good mechanical properties, it deserves further study , Long-term studies will clarify its possible role in maxillofacial surgery .