Backscattered Electron Imaging of the Calcified Tissues Present in Bone Healing

Abstract

SummaryThe aspect of calcified tissues involved in fracture healing was studied by means of backscattered electron imaging. Bilateral transverse midshaft osteotomies were performed in the tibiae of 16 dogs. The osteotomies were reduced by means of a type II external skeletal fixator, and the clinical and radiographic course was assessed weekly until the moment of euthanasia, one, two, four and eight weeks after the operations. The osteotomized areas were removed and their structure examined in the scanning electron microscope, using backscattered electron images, to determine the general aspect of the extracellular matrix of the calcified tissues present. Four different tissues were observed: lamellar bone, woven bone, calcified cartilage and chondroid tissue. The backscattered electron contrast and fibre arrangement of the matrix, as well as the size and shape of the cellular lacunae, allow identification of the tissue. Chondroid tissue, which seems to have a leading role in the early phases of fracture healing, shows a characteristic pattern of a highly calcified and fibrous matrix with a large number of irregular and confluent cell lacunae.The morphological characteristics of the calcified tissues involved in fracture healing were studied by means of backscattered electron imaging. Lamellar bone, woven bone, calcified cartilage and chondroid tissue were the four calcified tissues observed during the healing process of canine midshaft tibial experimental fractures.

RETRACTED: Ultrastructural study by backscattered electron imaging and elemental microanalysis of bone‐to‐biomaterial interface and mineral degradation of porcine xenografts used in maxillary sinus floor elevation

“…Although light microscopy (LM) provides important information about the presence of implant contact with bone or soft tissue, it does not give ultrastructural information about its actual arrangement at the interface (Orsini et al 2005(Orsini et al , 2006. Scanning Electron Microscopy with Backscattered Electron Imaging (SEM-BSE) technique has mainly been used to examine the implant-to-bone interface in descriptive studies performed on calcified tissue, fracture healing or bone response to implant surfaces (Franch et al 1998;Ottani et al 2002;Sul et al 2005). BSE observation has sufficient resolution to allow exploration of the different biological processes of tissue healing involved in the bone integration process that occurs at this interface (Wierzchos et al 2008).…”

“…Scanning Electron Microscopy with Backscattered Electron Imaging (SEM‐BSE) technique has mainly been used to examine the implant‐to‐bone interface in descriptive studies performed on calcified tissue, fracture healing or bone response to implant surfaces (Franch et al. ; Ottani et al. ; Sul et al.…”

RETRACTED: Ultrastructural study by backscattered electron imaging and elemental microanalysis of biomaterial‐to‐bone interface and mineral degradation of bovine xenografts in maxillary sinus floor elevation

“…Detailed in situ studies and precise visualization of the interface between the grafted biomaterial surface and newly formed bone are necessary to make an effective assessment of the bone integration process (Bloebaum et al 1990). Scanning Electron Microscopy with Backscattered Electron Imaging (SEM-BSE) technique has mainly been used to examine the biomaterial-to-bone interface in descriptive studies performed on calcified tissue, fracture healing, or bone response to implant surfaces (Franch et al 1998;Ottani et al 2002;Sul et al 2005). BSE observation has sufficient resolution to allow exploration of the different biological processes of tissue healing involved in the bone integration process that occur at this interface.…”

“…Scanning Electron Microscopy with Backscattered Electron Imaging (SEM‐BSE) technique has mainly been used to examine the biomaterial‐to‐bone interface in descriptive studies performed on calcified tissue, fracture healing, or bone response to implant surfaces (Franch et al. ; Ottani et al. ; Sul et al.…”