Effect of periosteum attached to autogenous iliac block bone graft on bone resorption in rabbits

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the periosteum attached to an iliac block bone graft on resorption of the grafted bone. Twenty-one rabbits were used. Iliac bone was harvested with (experimental group) or without a periosteum (control group) and grafted on the rabbit calvarium and fixed with miniscrews. The animals were killed, and specimens were harvested at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after the surgery. Histologic examination and histomorphometry were done. Grafted bones were severely resorbed, and the overall shapes were changed in the control group. On the contrary, the overall shape of the grafted bone was maintained, although the grafted bone was resorbed in the experimental group. Moreover, there were no osteoclasts adjacent to the periosteum of the graft. These results suggest that the periosteum attached to grafted bone can help establish early revascularization and prevent the resorption of grafted bone.