Radiologic follow-up of bone transplants to bridge mandibular continuity defects

Special radiologic imaging techniques were used to evaluate the results of nonvascularized bone grafts combined with rigid mandibular reconstruction plates. The radiologic findings divided 21 cases into three clearly distinct groups on the basis of resorption: slight (less than 15%), moderate (15% to 30%), and massive (more than 30%) (mean follow-up, 26 months). This division predicted the clinical results well. In contrast to earlier reports, it was shown that rigid plate bridging did not adversely influence the prognosis of the graft. Nor was early plate removal necessary to reach good ossification. Narrow-beam radiography and spiral tomography proved to be excellent tools for adequate evaluation of bone resorption and bony healing of mandibular grafts.