Evaluation of Tissue Response to Gore-Tex (Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene) Implantation

Objective/Hypothesis The aim of this study was to assess the tissue response to Gore-Tex (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) in rats and compare the results of surgical placement modalities. Study Design Prospective animal study. Materials and Methods Experiments were performed in 18 young Sprague-Dawley rats that were divided into 3 groups. Gore-Tex patches were implanted subcutaneously over the periosteum in the first group and under the periosteum in the other groups. Gore-Tex was immersed in an antibiotic-containing solution in the third group. All animals were killed 4 weeks after the procedure. The tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain and evaluated using a light microscope. Results The Gore-Tex patches were displaced and not observed at the originally implanted sites in the first group. The Gore-Tex patches were observed at the originally implanted sites in the other groups. In group 1, edema and inflammation were prominent. In the second group, ossification was detected in 5 rats and foreign-body reaction and edema were identified in 1 rat. In the third group, all of the rats were found to have developed ossification, but no inflammatory reactions were observed. Conclusions The results suggest that implanting synthetic graft materials immersed in an antibiotic solution at the subperiosteal plane provides better stabilization and low complication rates.