BIOCERAMIC IMPLANTATION IN THE INTERMANDIBULAR SPACE IN BILATERAL ROSTRAL MANDIBULECTOMY OF THE DOG

Effect of bioceramic implantation on the intermandibular space along w ith plating in rostral mandibulectomy was investigated in the dog. In this group, bioceramic beads consisting of a complex of hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate were implanted in the intermandibular space between the lingual surfaces of the fracture ends. In two other groups , the dogs received only plating on the ostectomized end, or they rece ived only rostal mandibulectomy without plating. No difficulty in mast ication was observed in the implanted group after surgery. In the dogs which received plating, however, difficulty was noted only in the 4th week when wet food was replaced by dry food, and in the control group in the 6th week after the surgery. From the radiological and microsco pical findings, in dogs with only plating or without the fixation ther e was no bony union in the intermandibular space at 16 weeks, though t he increase in fibrous tissue and bony callus in the area was much gre ater in the plated dogs than in the control group. In the implanted gr oup, on the other hand, the increase in callus formation was considera ble compared to the other groups. Moreover, the lingual surfaces of th e fracture ends were well ossified at 12 postoperative weeks. This sug gests that in canine bilateral rostral mandibulectomy the stabilizatio n of the fracture ends with plates and bioceramic implants filling a g ap in the intermandibular space may enhance the ossification between t he fracture ends and prevent postoperative difficulty in mastication.