Unusually rapid bone regeneration following mandibular resection

Two cases of unusually rapid and extensive bone regeneration are presented. Heterotopic bone formation in small deposits has often been reported in the literature, but bone regeneration extending over a distance of one half of the mandible in a period of six months is extremely rare. Both patients were young and had had a resection performed for benign lesions which were infected at the time of operation. Preservation of periosteum, coupled with the age of the patients, possible genetic factors and infection may play important roles in rapid bone regeneration.