Responses of the rabbit’s soft tissue of the orbit and periorbital area, and orbital bone structures to the introduction of the polymer composition implant and PFTE implant

Abstract

Background: The synthetic polymer materials to be used in plastic and reconstructive surgery for craniofacial injuries should have high compatibility with biological tissues. In cooperation with MEDBIOTECH LLC (Republic of Belarus), we have developed a carbon-polymer composite with thermo- and electrophysical characteristics close to those of viable biological tissues. Purpose: To investigate experimentally the responses of the soft tissue of the orbit and periorbital area, and orbital bones to the polymer composite implants (PCI) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PFTE) implants. Materials and Methods: Chinchilla rabbits received one of the two types of implants, PCI (Mt, Mt1, Mt2 or Mt2+ ceftriaxone versions), or PFTE implants, into the periorbital area, scleral sac, orbital tissue, or auricle tissue. The response of the soft tissues and bone structures to the implants was assessed based on changes in clinical and pathomorphological indices at days 10, 30 and 60. Results: In any type of implant, post-surgical wound healing was found to occur by primary intention. Inflammatory responses of the rabbit’s soft tissue of the orbit and periorbital area, and of the orbital bones to the PFTE implant were more pronounced than those to the PCI. We found histomorphologically that adjacent soft tissues grew into the PCI, and a capsule formed around the PFTE implant. Conclusion: The polymer composite implants were found to have improved biocompatibility compared to polytetrafluoroethylene implants.

Keywords

• periorbital area
• scleral sac
• auricle tissue
• reconstructive surgery
• polymer composite
• polytetrafluoroethylene
• experiment