Postoperative irradiation of fresh autogenic cancellous bone grafts

Discontinuity defects were created in the mandibles of dogs and then reconstructed immediately with fresh autogenic cancellous bone grafts and Dacron-urethane prostheses. The grafts were irradiated to a total dose of 5000 rads after waiting intervals of between 3 and 12 weeks. Nonirradiated grafts served as controls. The grafts were evaluated clinically, radiographically, and histologically. There was complete incorporation of all grafts, regardless of the interval between surgery and radiotherapy. There were no soft-tissue complications. The controls were distinguishable from the irradiated grafts only by the presence of hematopoietic bone marrow. Fibrofatty marrow was observed in the irradiated grafts. Theoretical support for this technique is found in the biology of cancellous bone grafting and the pathology of radiation injury. In view of the difficulties associated with mandibular bone grafting in preoperatively irradiated patients, a new method of reconstructing selected cancer patients who require both mandibular resection and radiotherapy is suggested.