Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical, histologic findings of distracted regenerate and TMJ response in modified distraction osteogenesis (DO) technique combined with compression force as biomechanical stimulation method which has been suggested in 2002, and developed thereafter by authors. This study was performed with two experiments. First experiment was designed to explore the optimal ratio of compression force versus distraction force for the new DO technique. Second experiment was planned to evaluate the reaction of TMJ tissue, especially condyle, disc after application of the DO technique with compression force. Total 52 New Zealand adult male-rabbits with 3.0kg body weight were used for the study. For the first study, 30 adult male-rabbits underwent osteotomy at one side of mandibular body and a external distraction device was applied on each rabbit with same manner. In the control group of 10 rabbits, final 8 mm of distraction with 1 mm rate per day was done with conventional DO technique after 5 latency days. For the experimental group of 20 rabbits, a compression force with 1 mm rate per day was added to the distracted mandible on 3-latency day after over-distraction (over-lengthening). As the amount of the rate of compression versus distraction, experimental subgroup I (10 rabbits) was set up as 2 mm compression versus 10 mm distraction (1/5) and experimental subgroup II (10 rabbits) was set up as 3 mm compression versus 11 mm distraction (about 1/3). All 30 rabbits were set up to obtain final 8 mm distraction and sacrificed on postoperative 55 day to analysis on biomechanical, and histologic findings of the bone regenerates. For second study, 22 adult male-rabbits were used to evaluate TMJ response after the DO method application with compression force. In the control group, 10 rabbits was used to be performed with conventional DO method, on the other hand, in a experimental group of 10 rabbits, 10 mm distraction with 2 mm compression (1/5 ratio) was done. The remaining 2 rabbits served as the normal control group. Histomorphologic examinations on both condyle, histological studies on condyle, disc were done at 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 weeks after distraction force application. The results were as follows: 1. On the bone density findings, the experimental group II (force ratio - 1/3) showed higher bone density than the other experimental group (force ratio - 1/5) and control group (control group - $0,2906\;g/cm^2$, experimental group I - $0.2961\;g/cm^2$, experimental group II - $0.3328\;g/cm^2$). 2. In the histologic findings, more rapid bone maturation like as wide lamellar bone site, more trabeculae formation was observed in two experimental groups compared to the conventional DO control group. 3. In morphologic findings of condyle, there were no differences of size and architecture in the condyle in the control and experimental groups. 4. In histologic findings of condyles, there were thicker fiberous and proliferative layers in experimental group than those of control group until 2 weeks after distraction with compression force. But, no differences were seen between two groups on 3, 4, 7 weeks after compression. 5. In histologic findings of disc, more collagen contents in extracellular matrix, more regular fiber bundles, and less elastin fibers were seen in experimental group than control group until 2 weeks after distraction with compression. But, no differences were seen between two groups on 3, 4, 7 weeks after distraction with compression. From this study, we could identify that the new distraction osteogenesis technique with compression stimulation might improve the quality of bone regeneration. The no remarkable differences on TMJ response between control and experimental groups were seen and TMJ tissues were recovered similarly to normal TMJ condition after 3 weeks.
