Anti‐VEGFs hinder bone healing and implant osseointegration in rat tibiae

Abstract

AbstractAimTo assess the effect of anti‐vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) on bone healing (defect volume) and implant osseointegration (bone‐implant contact per cent) in rat tibia.Materials and MethodsIn Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 36), a unicortical defect was created in the right tibia and a titanium implant was placed in the left tibia of each rat. Rats were assigned into three groups and received either anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor neutralizing antibody, Ranibizumab or saline (control). Two weeks following surgery, rats were euthanized and bone samples were retrieved. Bone healing and osseointegration were assessed using micro‐CT and histomorphometry. One‐way anova followed by the Tukey's test was used for data analyses.ResultsThe volume of the bone defects in the anti‐VEGF group (2.48 ± 0.33 mm3) was larger (p = 0.026) than in the controls (2.11 ± 0.36 mm3) as measured by μ‐CT. Bone‐implant contact percent in the anti‐VEGF (19.9 ± 9.4%) and Ranibizumab (21.7 ± 9.2%) groups were lower (p < 0.00) than in the control group (41.8 ± 12.4%).ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that drugs that inhibit the activity of vascular endothelial growth factor (i.e. anti‐VEGF) may hinder bone healing and implant osseointegration in rat tibiae.