Autologous fascia graft as a biological barrier to silicone application in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE To determine the cellular effects of providing a fascial interface around subcutaneously-placed silicone implants, in terms of capsule thickness, myofibroblast/fibroblast cell count and inflammatory cell count. STUDY DESIGN Interventional, comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Laboratory of Experimental Animals, Istanbul, Turkey, from May to September 2008. METHODOLOGY A total of 16 adult New Zealand male rabbits with mean weight of 2508 ± 360 g were used in the study. Animals were divided into two groups as experiment and control groups with equal number of rabbits in each. Fascia injection was applied on silicone implant in the experiment group and compared with the control group in terms of capsule thickness, myofibroblast/fibroblast cell count and inflammatory cell count. At the end of the experiment, tissue samples were examined macroscopically and microscopically for the above. Statistical analysis of data was performed using student's t-test. RESULTS A statistically significant difference was found between experiment group and control group in terms of mean capsule thickness, mean myofibroblast and fibroblast cell counts and cell density (p < 0.05, each). CONCLUSION Fascia tissue barrier prevent silicone rod reaction and foreign body reaction developing against silicone prosthesis in the studied animal model.