Evaluation of guided bone regeneration in rabbit tibia using bioresorbable and non-resorbable membranes

The aim of this study was an evaluation of the possibility of bone regeneration in connection with implant placement, using a new bioresorbable membrane (Guider Matrix Barrier(R)) used previously in periodontal tissues regeneration. The study compared the bone regeneration obtained around Bonefit-ITI implants inserted in rabbit tibia using Guider membranes, Gore-Tex(R) membranes and in control sites. Microscopic analysis was performed after 6, 9 and 12 weeks. It was possible to see that the amount of bone around implants covered by Guider and Gore-Tex membranes was roughly equivalent in all experimental sites at the 6-, 9- and 12-week time intervals. Also, all control sites healed completely. It could be concluded from this study that: (1) rabbit tibia cannot be recommended in research connected with guided bone regeneration, as all control sites healed in the same way as the test sites; (2) in no case did the presence or the degradation of the resorbable membrane prevent the formation of new bone; (3) no inflammatory reaction was present around the bioresorbable and the non-resorbable membranes; (4) bone formed in all cases on the outer surface of the non-resorbable membranes; (5) large Guider membrane fragments were present in the 6-week specimens, while in the 12-week specimens only small fragments were recognizable; (6) Guider membranes can be used in guided bone regeneration.