Radiological Study of Cartilage Graft in Repair of Experimentally Radial Bone Defect in Rabbit

Sixteen adult male New Zealand white rabbits having body weight ranged from 3.0-3.5 Kg. Under general anesthesia, a segmental full thickness bone defect of 1 cm in length was created in the middle of the right radial shaft in all rabbits. They were divided into two groups of 8 rabbits each. Group I was considered as control and the fractured site was fixed using finger bone plate with 4 screws, whereas the ear cartilage of 1.1 cm graft was used to fill the gap after fracture fixation in Group II. Radiography was done before and after creating defects and on 15, 30 and 60 days to evaluate local reaction as callus formation are concerned. On the radiographs during the whole process, bone repair in Group I was not as perfect as those in Group II samples and trace of internal callus filled the gap incompletely in 60 days in Group I, whereas in Group II internal callus almost was formed on 30 days and in addition intercortical callus was seen supporting to cover and filled the gap completely in this group. Cartilage graft is suitable alternative bone filler and radiography is reliable techniques to trace local reaction at proper time.