Purpose: The treatment of fractures involves addressing the biology of fracture repair and the mechanical stability of fracture fixation. Traditionally it has included the addition of bone graft to enhance healing. New advances in the understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of fracture repair have led to the use of growth factors to accelerate bone healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bone marrow aspirate on healing activity of rabbit mandibular fractures by histological analysis.
Material and Methods :Experimental study was on 30 male rabbits, classified into
Group I, normal control group. Group II, fracture control group formed of 10 rabbits in which traumatic mandibular fractures were done then fixed through wiring without application of bone marrow aspirate. Group III (Bone marrow aspirate) formed of 10 rabbits in which traumatic mandibular fractures were done then fixed through wiring with application of bone marrow aspirate.
Results: Fracture site in bone marrow aspirate group showed peripheral pre-existing bony plates with formation of callus formed mainly by the more regularly arranged osteoid trabeculae rimmed by osteoblastic proliferation being more mature towards the periphery and few immature bony trabeculae
Conclusions : Bone marrow aspirate as source of stem cells seem to be of clinical advantage in acceleration of bone healing.