Augmentation of the rat jaw with autogeneic cortico-cancellous bone grafts and guided tissue regeneration

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of augmenting the maxillary alveolar ridge and the lateral aspect of the mandible with onlay autogeneic cortico-cancellous bone grafts that were covered with e-PTFE membranes. The experiment was carried out in 51 rats. In 15 rats, the edentulous maxillary jaw between the incisor and the first molar was augmented by means of an autogeneic ischiac bone graft that was fixed with a gold-coated microimplant. In one side, the graft was covered with an e-PTFE membrane, while the other side, which served as control, was treated without a membrane. In the other 36 rats, the lateral aspect of the mandible was augmented in both sides by means of an autogeneic ischiac bone graft that was fixed with a gold-coated or a titanium microimplant. In one side, the augmented area was covered with an e-PTFE membrane, while the contralateral side was treated without a membrane. Histological analysis at 60, 120 and 180 days after augmentation of the maxilla showed that, in the case of the test sites (where most of the membranes were either exposed or lost), the bone grafts presented extensive resorption and there was a lack of bone continuity between the graft and the recipient site. Similar findings were made at the non-membrane-treated control sides. In the case of augmentation of the mandible with membranes, the bone grafts were not resorbed, but were integrated into newly formed bone at the recipient site. In the control sides, the grafts presented varying degrees of resorption and integration into the recipient bone. It is concluded that, in comparison to bone grafting alone, onlay ischiac bone grafting combined with guided tissue regeneration eliminates the risk of bone graft resorption and ensures integration of the graft into newly formed bone at the recipient site, provided that closure of the operated area can be maintained during healing.