• Li Ma, Mai Har Sham, Li Wu Zheng, and Lim Kwong Cheung.
• Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, China.
• J Trauma. 2011 Jun 1;70(6):E117-21.

BackgroundNicotine at a low concentration was suggested as a new topical drug for clinical application. It has been reported to be capable of enhancing skin wound healing. This study was designed to assess the effect of nicotine administration at a low dose on bone regeneration using a rabbit model of mandibular distraction osteogenesis.MethodsTwenty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to nicotine group and control group. A total of 0.75 g, 60-day time release, nicotine pellets or placebos were implanted in the neck subcutaneous tissue of the rabbits. The nicotine or placebo exposure time for all the animals was 7 weeks. Unilateral mandibular distraction osteogenesis was performed. Five animals in each group were killed on week 2 and week 4 of consolidation, respectively. The mandibular samples were subjected to radiographic, histologic, and immunohistochemical analysis.ResultsNicotine at low dose showed no significant effect on the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and on the radiodensity of bone regeneration. However, the delayed bone healing was detected in the nicotine group by histologic examination.ConclusionsThese findings imply a potential risk of compromised bone healing in patients taking nicotine medication. Further clinical studies are necessary to assess the risk of nicotine medication on reconstructive surgery.

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