Comparison of Osteogenic Power of Periosteal Transplants from Rib and Tibia

Abstract

The object of this study was to compare the osteogenic power of periosteal transplants of the rib with those of the tibia.

Six healthy adult dogs were employed. All operations were carried out with aseptic technique under ether anesthesia. In each of 3 dogs (Group I) equal-sized strips of periosteum, free from cortical bone, were removed from the mid-portion of the right 7th rib and from the middle one-third of the shaft of the right tibia. Both transplants were sutured on the external surface of the tibialis anticus muscle fascia. In each of 3 dogs (Group II) equal-sized pedicle flaps of periosteum from the rib and tibia were made. Their free ends, which were about 3 cm. long, were turned laterally and sutured on to the intercostal and tibialis anticus muscle fascia, respectively. Two of the animals in the latter group were discarded because of infection of the wounds.

Seven weeks after operation one animal of Group I was sacrificed and an autopsy was performed. In this animal microscopic examination of the transplant of periosteum from the tibia showed no evidence of osteogenesis; the transplant of periosteum from the rib, on the other hand, showed several areas with formation of new intramembranous bone. Autopsies were performed on the remaining 3 animals (2 of Group I and one of Group II) 8 months after operation. The findings in the specimens of each of these animals were essentially the same. Gross examination showed solid pieces of bone in place of each of the transplants of rib periosteum. The transplants of periosteum from the tibia felt tough and fibrous but they were pliable and showed no gross evidence of bone formation. In each case, microscopic examination of the periosteum from the rib showed well formed cortical and medullary bone, with marrow tissue and active osteogenesis especially at the periphery. The specimen of the pedicle graft of rib periosteum showed approximately 25% greater amount of new bone and also more active osteogenesis, than the specimen of free graft of rib periosteum. The grafts of periosteum of the tibia showed nothing except fibrosis of the connective tissues. In one of the latter sections there was a small amount of calcification but no evidence of ossification.