Histomorphometric Evaluation of the Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment on Healing Around Hydroxyapatite Implants in Irradiated Rat Bone

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on the tissue reaction around hydroxyapatite (HA) implants in irradiated bone of rats was investigated. A single dose of 15 Gy was delivered to the right leg of 20 rats. HA implants were placed in the bilateral tibial proximal metaphysis 3 months after irradiation. HBO was administered to half of the rats before and after 15-Gy irradiation. The healing process was examined histologically and histomorphometrically. The results indicated that HBO slightly improved trabecular bone formation in the irradiated bone, accelerated bone remodeling in the nonirradiated bone, and improved HA-bone contact in both the irradiated and nonirradiated bones. Keywords: hydroxyapatite implants, hyperbaric oxygen, irradiated bone, rat, tibia