| Avian bone graft studies have provided very limited information about sources of bone for grafting purposes in avian species. This study evaluated the use of avian demineralized bone matrix (ADBM) and the intramedullary-external skeletal fixator (IM-ESF) tie-in technique.; Two pilot studies were conducted in which 0.25 ml of ADBM powder (particle size 420 μm and less) prepared from chicken, Japanese quail, pigeon, and turkey was intramuscularly implanted in pigeons to determine whether bone formation would occur. Radiological and histological studies showed that implantation of ADBM did not result in any new bone formation at 3- and 4-week end points.; Torsion biomechanical, histological, and radiological studies were used to evaluate the IM-ESF tie-in technique. Compared to ulnas healed with the IM-ESF tie-in technique, normal intact ulnas were characterized by significantly higher (p < 0.05) rotation angle (degree), maximum torque (Nm), and energy absorption (Nm), but not stiffness (Nm/degree). Radiographic evaluation showed that 94% of the transverse ulna fractures had healed with average time to clinical union at 4.5 weeks post-surgery. Histological evaluation of healed transverse ulna fractures at 6 weeks post-surgery consisted of measurements of external and internal calluses and restoration of the medullary cavity.; Research on 1-cm ulna defects implanted with 0.5 ml of ADBM powder from chicken, pigeon, and turkey involved only radiological and histological studies. Radiological and histological studies of 1-cm ulna gaps treated without ADBM found that bone defects did not bridge with new bone. Radiological studies of the ADBM groups provided little information on the effects of ADBM powder on bone healing.; In the histomorphometry study, the percentage of new bone area, percentage of cartilage area, percentage of inflammatory area, surface-forming osteoblast area, and oteoclast count were determined. Avian demineralized bone matrix (ADBM) powder prepared from chicken, pigeon, and turkey sources induced bone formation via endochondral and intramembranous processes, as in mammalian studies. There were no significant differences in percentage of new bone, percentage of cartilage, surface-forming osteoblast area, or osteoclast count between gaps treated with chicken, pigeon, and turkey DBM. However, there was a significantly (p < 0.05) higher percentage of inflammatory area in gaps treated with chicken DBM than in gaps treated with pigeon DBM. |
