The split calvarial bone graft donor site: the effects of surgicel and hydroxyapatite impregnated with collagen

Surgicel, which is commonly used as a hemostatic agent in clinical practice, is basically composed of oxidized regenerated cellulose. Skoog followed by Thilander and Stenstrom are credited with initially describing the use of Surgicel as a subperiosteal implant that could stimulate new bone formation in the closure of secondary palatal fistulae. Encouraged by these previous studies, we decided to investigate the effect of Surgicel and a new implant material, hydroxyapatite impregnated with collagen, on the split calvarial bone graft donor site. To do this, we used adult New Zealand White rabbits as our experimental model. Our study demonstrated histological evidence of both an increased quantity and earlier bony reformation, eventually reconstituting the surgical defect in the split calvarial bone graft donor site treated with Surgicel. Additionally, we found that this alloplastic implant material has potential in the reconstruction of the donor defect in selected patients.