Bioceramic implantation in the intermandibular space in bilateral rostral mandibulectomy of the dog.

Effect of bioceramic implantation on the intermandibular space along with 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 received only rostal mandibulectomy without plating. No difficulty in mastication 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 microscopical findings, in dogs with only plating or without the fixation there was no bony union in the intermandibular space at 16 weeks, though the increase in fibrous tissue and bony callus in the area was much greater in the plated dogs than in the control group. In the implanted group, on the other hand, the increase in callus formation was considerable compared to the other groups. Moreover, the lingual surfaces of the fracture ends were well ossified at 12 postoperative weeks. This suggests that in canine bilateral rostral mandibulectomy the stabilization of the fracture ends with plates and bioceramic implants filling a gap in the intermandibular space may enhance the ossification between the fracture ends and prevent postoperative difficulty in mastication.