EVALUATION OF CO-POLYAMIDE IMPLANT COMPRISING A THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER IN RABBIT TRACHEA USING THERMOGRAPHIC CAMERA

Abstract

Thermography is efficient for detecting body surface temperature and can be used as an auxiliary method for the diagnosis of inflammatory processes and in the evaluation of scarring patterns, which allows its wide use in Veterinary Medicine. The procedure has gained prominence, as it is a non-invasive, painless, low-cost and safe technique, since it does not require the use of contrasts, sedation and radiation. The objective of this article is to analyze the efficiency of the use of thermography in the evaluation of biocompatibility in tracheal tissue repair, as well as to identify inflammatory processes after implantation of the 3D printed impression prosthesis of nylon associated with the thermoplastic elastomer - PCTPE. Fifteen male New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were divided into three groups of different evaluation periods (seven, 15 and 30 days). Three-dimensional prostheses were implanted after complete resection of three tracheal rings. The evaluation of the thermographic images was performed at the place of implantation of the tracheal prosthesis just before the surgical procedure and immediately before euthanasia. There was a significant difference between the groups, and at 30 days the minimum (p = 0,0357), average (p = 0,0135) and maximum (p = 0,0058) temperature was lower when compared with the other groups. This is justified due to the fact that this group fits into the maturation phase of wound repair, where there is no more inflammation or formation of granulation tissue, which causes temperatures to assume lower values. It was concluded that the technique was effective in detecting inflammatory and scarring patterns.