Particulate allogeneic bone grafts into maxillary alveolar clefts in humans: a preliminary report

The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of particulate allogeneic bone graft to adequately bridge unilateral maxillary alveolar clefts in humans. Twenty patients with unilateral alveolar clefts and oronasal fistula underwent alveolar cleft grafting with a clinically appropriate amount of particulate allogeneic bone. The grafted cleft area was followed radiographically for three to six months postsurgery. Although it was difficult to quantitate, it was both clinically and radiographically apparent at three months that bone bridging and filling of the cleft had occurred in 100% of the cases. From this study, it appears that allogeneic bone is a viable alternative for repairing alveolar clefts and that its use has a significant benefit to the patient by eliminating the morbidity of a second operative site.