Two dimensional and color doppler sonography evaluation of the cartilage graft in repair of experimentally induced radial bone defect in rabbit

Sixteen adult male New Zealand white rabbits having body weight ranged from 3-3.5 Kg. Under general anesthesia, a segmental full thickness bone defect of 10 mm in length was created in the middle of the right radial shaft in all rabbits. They were divided into two groups of 6 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. Rabbits in two groups were subdivided into 2 subgroups of 1 and 2 months duration with 4 rabbits in each. Two dimensional and color Doppler sonography was done before and after creating defects and on 15, 30 and 60 days to evaluate local reaction as echogenicity and blood vascular network are concerned. Sonographic findings confirmed the gap in 60 days in Group II hyper echoic with osseous echogenicity, but gap in group I was not hyper echoic with osseous echogenicity and the protrusion of newly formed blood vascular network in 30 days in Group I and from 15 days in Group II and remarkably increased till endof observation period. Cartilage graft is suitable alternative bone filler and two dimensional and color Doppler sonography is reliable techniques to trace local reaction at proper time.