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Reconstruction of canine mandibular bone defects using a bone transport reconstruction plate
Mohammed E Elsalanty1, Ibrahim Zakhary, Sara Akeel
1Department of Oral Biology, Medical College of Georgia Dental School, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Objectives:
Reconstruction of mandibular segmental bone defects is a challenging task. This study tests a new device used for reconstructing mandibular defects based on the principle of bone transport distraction osteogenesis.
Methods:
Thirteen beagle dogs were divided into control and experimental groups. In all animals, a 3-cm defect was created on one side of the mandible. In 8 control animals, the defect was stabilized with a reconstruction plate without further reconstruction and the animals were killed 2 to 3 months after surgery. The remaining 5 animals were reconstructed with a bone transport reconstruction plate, comprising a reconstruction plate with attached intraoral transport unit, and were killed after 1 month of consolidation.
Results:
Clinical evaluation, cone-beam CT densitometry, three-dimensional histomorphometry, and docking site histology revealed significant new bone formation within the defect in the distracted group.
Conclusion:
The physical dimensions and architectural parameters of the new bone were comparable to the contralateral normal bone. Bone union at the docking site remains a problem.
