Histomorphometric Study of Non-critical Bone Defect Repair after Implantation of Magnesium-substituted Hydroxyapatite Microspheres

The present study aims to analyze histomorphometrically the repair of a non-critical bone defect after implantation of hydroxyapatite (HA) microspheres substituted by magnesium (Mg). Thirty rats were distributed into 3 experimental groups, evaluated at 15 and 45 days postoperatively: HAG (bone defect filled with HA microspheres); HAMgG (bone defect filled with HA microspheres replaced with 1 mol% Mg), and CG (bone defect without implantation of biomaterials). After 15 days, the biomaterials filled the entire defect extent, forming a new osteoid matrix between the microspheres. In the CG, this neoformation was restricted to the edges with the deposition of loose connective tissue with reduced thickness. At 45 days, new bone formation filled almost the entire extension of the bone defect in the 3 groups, with statistically significant osteoid deposition in the CG despite the reduced thickness compared with the HAG and HAMgG. The groups with biomaterial implantation displayed a more abundant osteoid matrix than at 15 days. The biomaterials studied showed biocompatibility, osteoconductivity, and bioactivity. The Mg concentration in the substituted HA did not stimulate more significant bone formation than HA without this ion.