Rib segment, as one of the most widely used autologous bone resources for bone repair, is commonly isolated with an empty left in the defect. Although defective rib repair is traditionally thought to be unnecessary, it is of vital importance to promote rib regeneration for better postoperative recovery and higher quality of life. Comparative investigations on rabbit rib bone regeneration with and without graft were reported in this article. A segmental defect was performed on the 8th rib of 4-month-old male New Zealand rabbits. The mineralized collagen bone graft (MC) was implanted into the defect and evaluated for up to 12 weeks. The rib bone repair was investigated using X-ray at 4, 8, and 12 weeks and histological examinations at 12 weeks after surgery, which showed a higher bone remodeling activity in the groups with MC implantation compared to the blank control group, especially at the early stage of remodeling.

“The results indicated that defective rib bones rapidly regenerated with MC implantation, showing more mature bone tissue compared to the control group.”

Rib defects are commonly encountered in clinical settings, often resulting from trauma, surgery, or bone harvesting for grafting procedures. While traditionally left untreated, such defects can lead to complications like chest wall deformities and compromised respiratory function. This study investigates the potential of mineralized collagen (MC) bone grafts in promoting rib defect regeneration.

In a controlled experiment, New Zealand rabbits underwent segmental rib defects, with one group receiving MC implants and the other left untreated as a control. Over 12 weeks, bone healing was monitored through X-ray imaging and histological analysis. Results indicated that the MC group exhibited superior bone remodeling, with earlier new bone formation and enhanced structural integrity compared to the control group. The study suggests that MC grafts could serve as an effective strategy for bone regeneration, offering a promising solution for clinical rib reconstruction.