Fractal analysis of the surgical treatment of ligature-induced peri-implantitis in dogs

Kim, Hak Kun; Kim, Jin Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the effect of surgical treatment of ligature-induced peri-implantitis in dogs using fractal analysis. Also, the capabilities of fractal analysis as bone analysis techniques were compared with those of histomorphometric analysis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 24 implants were inserted in 6 dogs. After a 3-months, experimental periimplantitis characterized by a bone loss of about 3 mm was established by inducing with wires. Surgical treatment involving flap procedure, debridement of implants surface with chlorhexidine and saline (group 1), guided bone regeneration (GBR) with absorbable collagen membrane and mineralized bone graft (group 2), and CO2 laser application with GBR (group 3) were performed. After animals were sacrificed in 8 and 16 weeks respectively, bone sections including implants were made. Fractal dimensions were calculated by box-counting method on the skeletonized images, made from each region of interest, including five screws at medial and distal aspects of implant, were selected.
RESULTS
Statistically significant differences in the fractal dimensions between the group 1 (0.9340+/-0.0126) and group 3 (0.9783+/-0.0118) at 16 weeks were found (P<0.05). The fractal dimension was statistically significant different between 8 (0.9395+/-0.0283) and 16 weeks in group 3 (P<0.05). These results were similar with the result of the evaluation of new bone formation in histomorphometric analysis.
CONCLUSION
Treatment of experimental peri-implantitis by using CO2 laser with GBR is more useful than other treatments in the formation of new bone and also the tendency of fractal dimension to increase relative to healing time may be a useful means of evaluating.