The early vascularization of onlay bone grafts

On the basis of this work, several conclusions may be drawn. (1) Autogenous iliac crest onlay bone grafts in the rat vascularize as early as 3 days. (2) The presence or absence of periosteum transferred with the graft has no significant effect on the rate of vascularization. Neither was a difference noted when grafts were placed above or below the host periosteum. (3) The onlay bone grafts in this study appeared to be revascularized by vessel ingrowth. (4) Factors other than the ones controlled in this experiment may influence rate, quantity, and quality of the vascularization of bone grafts.