Thrombosed vascularized bone graft: viability compared with a conventional bone graft

Previous reports in the literature have suggested that the viability of a thrombosed vascularized bone transfer is similar to that of a conventional bone graft. Our clinical impression, however, has been that this is not the case. The viability of thrombosed vascularized bone grafts was compared with that of conventional nonvascularized grafts in a canine model. Assessment included quantitating bone blood flow, tetracycline uptake, and osteocyte count. Results suggest that a thrombosed vascularized bone graft is less favorable for vascular invasion and the usual process of bone graft incorporation than a conventional bone graft.