COMPARISON OF OSSIFICATION OF DEMINERALIZED BONE, HYDROXYAPATITE, GELFOAM, AND BONE WAX IN CRANIAL DEFECT REPAIR

Demineralized bone allografts in the repair of calvarial defects are c ompared with other common bone fillers. This study uses a video-digiti zing radiographic analysis of calvarial defect ossification to determi ne calcification of bone defects and its relation to postoperative cli nical examination and regional controls. The postoperative clinical re sults at 3 months demonstrated that bony healing was greatest in bur h oles filled with demineralized bone and hydroxyapatite. Radiographic a nalysis demonstrated calcification of demineralized bone-filled defect s compared to bone wax- and Gelfoam-filled regions. Hydroxyapatite gra nules are radiographically dense, thus not allowing accurate measureme nt of true bone healing. The results suggest that demineralized bone a nd hydroxyapatite provide better structural support via bone healing t o defined calvarial defects than do Gelfoam and bone wax.