The effect of pentosan polysulphate on bone healing of rat cranial defects

The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy of pentosan polysulp hate, used in combination with guided bone regeneration on rat skull defect s. The study was conducted on 45 adult Wistar rats. On each animal two symm etrical 6 mm wide, full-thickness, skull defects were created in the pariet al regions. The right defect was chosen as the experimental site and the le ft one was left empty to provide a control. Each experimental site was cove red by an inner and outer polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. The 45 rats wer e divided into 3 groups: in group I (II = 15), carboxymethyl cellulose, use d as a delivery vehicle, was injected between the two membranes; in group I I (n = 15), 1 mg of pentosan polysulfate was added to the carboxymethyl cel lulose vehicle; in group III (n = 15), purified micronized eggshell powder was added to the mixture of pentosan polysulfate and carboxymethyl cellulos e between the two membranes, In each group, the animals n ere sacrificed at 42 days. The harvested specimens were processed for contact radiography an d standard histological examination, The results were assessed by a Fisher' s exact test. All animals, except one, healed uneventfully. In group I, par tial bone healing was observed in 14 out of 15 animals. In group II, partia l bone healing was observed in 13 out of 15 animals, and complete bone heal ing in 1 out of 15 cases, In group III, partial resorption of the eggshell implant was observed with a partial bone healing in only 2 cases (P < 0.001 ), In conclusion, significant hone regeneration was observed with the membr anes alone. The use of pentosane polysulphate did not result in additional bone gain. The use of particulate material as a space maintainer is also qu estionable. (C) 1999 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.