Histological Evaluation of the Local Soft Tissue Reaction After Implanting Resorbable and Non-resorbable Monofilament Fibers.

BACKGROUND: The development of technologies and scientific disciplines connected with medical implantation devices is dynamically affecting modern treatments by contemporary medicine and veterinary medicine; it also entails a need to monitor their impact on living organisms.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to conduct a comparative histological evaluation of the response of soft tissues after implanting monofilament fibers from resorbable glyconate and from non-resorbable polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA) in rats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Non-resorbable polyamide-based fibers were applied to skin anastomoses in rats. Macroscopic and histological evaluations were performed on the 7th, 14th and 30th days. Non-resorbable polypropylene fibers and resorbable glyconate fibers (composed of 72% glycolide, 14% trimethylene carbonate and 4% caprolactone) were implanted in muscle tissue for periods of 7, 14, 30 and 90 days.

RESULTS: A semi-quantitative and qualitative histological evaluation found different dynamics and degrees of intensification of cell and tissue response around the resorbable and non-resorbable fibers being tested. The resorption process of the glyconate threads caused a prolonged inflammatory cellular response compared to the non-resorbable threads; it passed, however, without the participation of giant cells. Around the non-resorbable threads the observed cellular response was less intensified, with the formation of single polymorphonuclear macrophages around the PP threads, along with a stronger degree of fibrosis and the presence of fatty infiltrate.

CONCLUSIONS: During the early period, moderately intensified inflammatory cell response with the presence of single giant cells was observed around the non-degradable PA and PP fibers. In the late period, a band of fibrous connective tissue was present around the PP threads. Glyconate fibers underwent fragmentation and the process of resorption, which was associated with a weakly intensified inflammatory process lasting up to 90 days after implantation.