• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.551-562
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of negatively electric field on bone healing in rabbit segmental long bone defects using negatively charged PTFE membrane. Ten millimeter segmental defects in the rabbit radius were used as the experimental model. After membranes were then charge injected using a corona-charging apparatus, the left defects were covered with non charged PTFE membranes as control groups, whereas the right defect was covered with negatively charged PTFE membranes as test group. The animals were divided into 4 groups of 2 rabbits each, and sacrificed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Histomorphometric analysis showed a more newly formed bone in negatively charged membrane at early healing period. At 2 weeks, the proportion of new bone formation to total defect area was 0.32% in control group, 1.10% in experimental group. At 4 weeks, the proportion of new bone formation to total defect area was 6.86% in control, and 13.75% in experimental. At 6 and 8 weeks, no obvious difference was found between the two groups but newly formed bone in test groups were slightly more than that in control groups. In conclusion, negatively charged membranes showed more newly bone tissue than noncharged membranes at an early healing period. Although the number of samples was small, this study showed that the combination of negatively electrical stimulation and P1FE membrane may be of value in long bone healing.