Three-Dimensional Morphology of Microdamage in Peri-Screw Bone: A Scanning Electron Microscopy of Methylmethacrylate Cast Replica

Abstract Screw implantation inevitably causes microdamage in surrounding bone. However, little is known about the detailed characteristics of microdamage in peri-screw bone. In this study, we developed a method to construct microdamage cast with methylmethacrylate (MMA) and observed the cast using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In basic fuchsin stained bone sections observed by bright-field and fluorescence microscopy, diffuse damage, cross-hatched damage, and linear cracks were all presented in peri-screw bone. Using MMA casting/SEM method, we found numerous densely packed microcracks in the areas with diffuse damage. The osteocyte canaliculi and the microcracks consisting of diffuse damage had a similar diameter (or width), usually <0.5 μm, but their morphology was largely different. In the area with cross-hatched damage, the orientation of microcracks was similar to that in diffuse damage, but the number was significantly decreased. Many microcracks were thicker than 1 μm and associated with a rough surface. Large linear cracks (∼10 μm in diameter) occurred in different areas. Plenty of microcracks were present on the surface of some linear cracks. In conclusion, the MMA casting/SEM method can demonstrate the three-dimensional morphology of different types of microdamage, particularly the microcracks in diffuse damage, which are unable to be shown by light microscopy.