Bone Healing Following Different Types of Osteotomy: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Three-Dimensional SEM Analyses

TLDR

The study compares bone healing dynamics following various osteotomy techniques. Twenty‑four rats underwent four osteotomy methods (steel bur, piezosurgery, contact and non‑contact Er:YAG laser), were sacrificed at baseline or 1, 2, or 3 weeks, and bone samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Immediately after surgery, steel bur produced bone debris while other methods yielded clean defects; piezosurgery induced the fastest early bone formation, and by three weeks all groups had fully healed, with only a slight initial delay seen in laser‑treated defects.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare dynamics of the bone healing process after different types of osteotomies. In total, 24 Wistar rats were subjected to different types of osteotomy performed with standard steel bur, piezosurgery, contact, and non-contact Erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser ablation. The animals were randomly divided into four groups, to be euthanized immediately after the procedure, or at 1, 2, or 3 weeks after surgery. The obtained bone samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Immediately after surgery, there were significant differences in the appearance of the bone defects, with presence of bone fragments and debris after standard steel bur preparation, compared with the clean smooth walls and relatively sharp edges in all other groups. The initial bone formation in defects prepared by piezosurgery was observed to be the most rapid. After 3 weeks, all bone defects were completely restored; although, differences in the healing pattern were noted, with a modest initial delay in healing after laser preparation. The first stage of the bone healing process was delayed when contact and non-contact Er:YAG laser modes were used and accelerated by piezosurgery; however, the results after 3 weeks demonstrated similar restitution of defects in all tested groups.