Histological Evaluation of Autogenous Iliac Particulate Cancellous Bone and Marrow Grafted to Alveolar Clefts—A Preliminary Report of Five Young Adult Cases

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We histologically evaluated iliac particulate cancellous bone and marrow (PCBM) grafted to alveolar clefts in five young adults with cleft lip and palate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five young adults with cleft lip and palate underwent secondary alveolar bone grafting. The mean age of the patients was 21.2 years (range = 17 to 27 years). Bone specimens were taken from the graft site 5 to 10 months after the surgery simultaneously with implant fixture placement (two cases), vestibuloplasty (two cases), and rebone grafting (one case). These five bone specimens were prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined microscopically. RESULT: One specimen, taken 5 months after surgery, showed immature trabecular bone partially lined by osteoblasts. The remaining four specimens showed well-mineralized trabeculae and fatty change in the marrow space. CONCLUSION: In young adult cases, PCBM remodeled after grafting and became mature bone about 5 to 6 months after the surgery.