For this study, 20 rabbits were used. The animals were divided into a guided surgery group (GG) and a control group (CG) and were then divided into 4 subgroups¡ªsubgroups 1, 2, 3, and 4¡ªcorresponding to drills used 10, 20, 30, and 40 times, respectively. All animals received 5 osteotomies in each tibia, by use of the classic drilling procedure in one tibia and guided surgery in the other tibia. The osteotomized areas were removed and processed immunohistochemically for detection of osteocalcin, receptor activator of nuclear factor ¦ÊB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and caspase?3.
Immunohistochemical analysis showed that osteocalcin expression was initially higher in the CG and remained constant after drill reutilization. Although the expressions of RANKL and OPG were not statistically different for the GG and CG, the RANKL/OPG ratio tended to be higher for the GG. Moreover, caspase 3 expression was elevated in the GG, proportionally to the number of osteotomies, indicating an increase in the apoptosis index in the GG.
The classic drilling procedure is more favorable to cell viability than guided surgery.