Regenerate Bone Formation and Remodeling during Mandibular Osteodistraction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the newly formed bone during the consolidation period of mandibular osteodistraction using quantitative histology. Seventeen skeletally mature conditioned male beagle dogs underwent 10 mm of bilateral mandibular lengthening. After distraction, the regenerates were allowed to consolidate for 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks, at which time the animals were sacrificed and tissues harvested for standard histologic and histomorphometric analyses. Mineralization began at the host bone margins by the end of the distraction period, followed by a progressive increase in trabecular bone, with a concomitant decrease in the amount of fibrous tissue. Between 4 to 6 weeks of consolidation, 3 types of relatively mature distraction regenerates were evident. The mineral apposition rate gradually increased from the end of distraction to the fourth week of consolidation, at which time it remained constant until sometime before the eighth week, when it tapered off slightly as remodeling increased.