Cancellous bone grafting with collagen stents

Surgical defects were created in the superior border of the mandible in five mongrel dogs and filled with particulate cancellous bone taken from the ilium and held in place with a bovine collagen stent. New bone formation was studied radiographically, histologically, and by intravital tetracycline labeling. The stent was adequate to maintain the bone particles in position and was well-tolerated by the tissues. The length of survival of the collagen stent was related to the degree of tanning.