THE HEALING-PROCESS OF PALATAL TISSUES AFTER PALATAL SURGERY WITH ANDWITHOUT IMPLANTATION OF MEMBRANES - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN DOGS

The aim of th is study was to evaluate the wound-healing process clini cally and histologically in growing beagle dogs after palatal repair a ccording to von Langenbeck, with and without implantation of membranes of a copolymer of polyhydroxybutyrate 80%-hydroxyvalerate 20% ( = PHB -co-HV 80/20). Von Langenbeck's repair was performed in 12 dogs (age 1 2 wk), while von Langenbeck's repair followed by implantation of PHV-c o-HV membranes was carried out in 11 dogs (age 12 wk). Four dogs (age 12 wk) served as unoperated controls. Standardized intra-oral slides o f the palate were taken and measurements of the wound surface areas we re carried out. Histological sections were prepared at three different ages. The animals were studied until the age of 25 wk. It was found t hat wound closure after the von Langenbeck's procedure took a bout 3 w k, while the use of PHB-co-HV membranes after von Langenbeck's repair resulted in complete wound closure after approximately 7 wk after the membranes had sequestered. At the age of 25 wk, the histologic results after the von Langenbeck procedure showed that the entire scar tissue covering the former denuded bony areas was attached to the bone by me ans of Sharpey's fibres, while after implantation of the membranes onl y local scar tissue attachment by means of Sharpey's fibres was found. Further research is necessary to develop a membrane which allows woun d closure without sequestration of it. (C) 1998 Chapman & Hall.