Growth and Survival of Vascularized and Nonvascularized Membranous Bone

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Although nonvascularized membranous bone grafts to the craniofacial skeleton demosntrate improved survival over similar grafts of endochondral origin, the comparative fate of vascularized membranous grafts is unknown. It is also unkown whether onlay membranous bone grafts in immature animals have the ability to grow. To examine these questions, a model was developed in New Zealand white rabbits in which a segment of the zygomatic arch was transferred to the subjacent mandible as either a vascularized or nonvscularized transfer. At harvest 16 weeks later, residual graft volume and bone architecture were analyzed. Results demonstrate no improved survival for vascularized membranous grafts in adult animals (n = 7), while in the immature animals (n = 6), growth of the vascularized bone transfers was documented. We conclude that in the majority of instances in craniofacial reconstruction, nonvascularized onlay membranous grafts are to be preferred. Specific instances for the use of vascularized transfers will be discussed.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: