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Review
. 2024 Dec 30;18(1):119.
doi: 10.3390/ma18010119.

Histomorphometric Assessment of Non-Decalcified Plastic-Embedded Specimens for Evaluation of Bone Regeneration Using Bone Substitute Materials-A Systematic Review

Varvara-Velika Rogova  1 , Stefan Peev  2 , Ralitsa Yotsova  1 , Tsvetalina Gerova-Vatsova  2 , Ivaylo Parushev  3
Affiliations
Review

Histomorphometric Assessment of Non-Decalcified Plastic-Embedded Specimens for Evaluation of Bone Regeneration Using Bone Substitute Materials-A Systematic Review

Varvara-Velika Rogova et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

With the implementation of bone substitute materials, regeneration strategies have inevitably evolved over the years. Histomorphometry is the optimal means of quantitative evaluation of bone structure and morphology. This systematic review focuses on determining study models, staining methods and histomorphometric parameters used for bone regeneration research on non-decalcified plastic-embedded specimens over the last 10 years. After being subjected to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 118 studies were included in this review. The results establish the most commonly selected animal model is rat, followed by rabbit, sheep and dog. Strong preference for staining samples with toluidine blue was noted. With regard to histomorphometric parameters, terms related to bone were most frequently assessed, amounting to almost half of recorded parameters. New bone formation was the main descriptor of this category. Residual bone graft and non-bone tissue parameters were also often evaluated. With regard to dynamic histomorphometry, mineral apposition rate (MAR) was the parameter of choice for most researchers, with calcein green being the preferred dye for fluorochrome labelling. An overview of the contemporary literature, as well as weaknesses in the current research protocols have been discussed.

Keywords: bone graft; bone regeneration; bone substitute; histology; histomorphometry; non-decalcified; plastic-embedded; undecalcified.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA diagram of the research.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Animal models.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Staining methods ranked by the number of studies that utilize them.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Histomorphometric parameters recorded in the reviewed literature.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Terms for histomorphometric parameters evaluating bone.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Terms for histomorphometric parameters evaluating bone substitute materials.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Terms for histomorphometric parameters evaluating non-bone tissue.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Dynamic histomorphometric parameters.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Risk of bias assessment for animal studies.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Risk of bias assessment for human studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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