Tissue engineering of high density porous polyethylene implant for three-dimensional reconstruction: an experimental study

Abstract

Three-dimensional defects have been reconstructed with carved and remodelled frameworks wrapped within vascular carriers. If sufficient vascular penetration can be established without any change in the size and shape of an implant, it will be possible to cover it with a skin graft and aesthetically important fine details can be obtained. To achieve this, we first prefabricated high-density porous polyethylene implant in rabbits. Secondly, we applied full-thickness skin grafts over the anterior surface of the prefabricated implant. The implants were placed and anchored underneath the superficial inferior epigastric artery and vein pedicle bilaterally. A total of 10 implants were prefabricated and then grafted in five rabbits. The implants were evaluated by perfusion scintigraphy and histological examination. Results showed that the implants were invaded by fibroneo-vascular tissue, and that this tissue, which can be transferred as a pedicled or a free flap, was sufficient to sustain a skin graft.