Use of homologous bone in maxillofacial surgery

Homologous bone grafts were used in 135 maxillofacial surgical procedures, including acute midfacial fracture repair (n = 77), elective osteotomies of the facial bones (n = 35), secondary correction of traumatic deformities (n = 6), mandibular reconstruction (n = 10), facial bone augmentation (n = 5), and reconstruction of maxillary tumor defects (n = 2). Postsurgical complications occurred in five of the patients. This article reviews the rationale for using homologous bone grafts, their immune response, how they heal, and the risk of transmission of disease.