Assessment of irradiated socket healing in the rabbit's mandible: Experimental study.

As bone healing is altered after external radiation therapy, its evaluation is mandatory and lacks in clinical practice. The aim of the pilot study was to validate micro computed tomography (microCT) as a simple and reliable technique for assessing irradiated bone healing in the rabbit's mandible and compare with histologic findings. Nineteen rabbits (female New Zealand white) were used. The radiation protocol consisted of 5 sessions delivering 8.5 Gy each. MicroCT was performed at D0, D7, D14, D28 and D42 for the control group and D0, D28 and D42 for the irradiated group. A modified Perry's score was determined on histologic samples, and comparison between microCT and histological findings was performed. The main differences between irradiated and non-irradiated rabbits were observed at Day 28 and 42. There was a strong correlation between imaging and histologic findings. Radiation decreases bone quality and bone mineral density. As the correlation was strong between microCT and histologic findings, micro imaging could be considered as a simple and reliable technique to assess bone healing after radiation therapy and allows an easy comparison between samples, without invasive procedures. Great attention should be kept on the parameters and on the region of interest. The development of in-vivo microCT enlarges the perspectives of microCT use in experimental studies, avoiding invasive procedures, and preserving animal lives and well-being, and furthermore lead to clinical applications.