Porous hydroxylapatite as a bone graft substitute in mandibular contour augmentation: a histometric study

The buccal contour of the mandible was augmented in 17 dogs with 5 X 7.5 X 20 mm blocks of porous hydroxylapatite (HA) on one side and two-layered split rib autografts on the other. Both specimens were retrieved at three, six, 12, 24, and 48 months. Undecalcified sections were prepared for microradiography, light and UV microscopy, and histometry. A transmitted light video image digitizing system was used to trace implant and graft perimeters and calculate cross sectional areas. This system was also used to measure graft density and calculate bone and soft tissue compositions. The HA matrix, bone and soft tissue compositions of implant specimens were measured with a backscattered scanning electron microscope imaging digitizing system. All grafts became increasingly resorbed with time whereas all implants remained intact. Mature osteotonic bone ingrowth was present in all implants except one which failed to unite with the mandibular cortex. The mean graft areas decreased from 30.8 mm2 at three months to 0.7 mm2 at 48 months, while the implant areas averaged 35.5 mm2 and remained stable. The graft specimens were composed of 46.6% bone and 53.4% soft tissue or fluid space. The implant specimens were composed of 34.5% HA matrix, 28.6% bone, and 33.9% soft tissue. The HA matrix had a surface area of 9.8 mm2/mm3 that was 61.9% covered with bone ingrowth and 38.1% covered with soft tissue or fluid space. In contrast to the rapid resorption of graft onlays, the porous HA matrix demonstrated a long-term permanence with maintenance of contour and osseous incorporation over the four-year duration of this study.