Cranial bone graft to reconstruct the mandibular condyle in Macaca mulatta.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cranial bone grafts to reconstruct the mandibular condyle in a nonhuman primate model.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The right mandibular condyle was resected in eight female, adult, nongrowing monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and the mandible was reconstructed with autogenous, full-thickness cranial bone harvested from the frontal area of the skull and stabilized with rigid fixation. Joint function, facial symmetry, and occlusion were evaluated preoperatively and over the course of 1 year postoperatively. The height of the bone graft was measured intraoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively.

RESULTS

Seven monkeys survived for 1 year. The animals' weights were stable postoperatively. There were no statistically significant changes in maximal incisal opening or lateral excursion, as well as no statistically significant changes in facial symmetry or occlusion. On average, the total decrease in height of the graft was 0.7 +/- 0.9 mm (P = .07).

CONCLUSION

After reconstruction of the mandibular condyle in Macaca mulatta, full-thickness cranial bone grafts provided a functional joint that resisted resorption. Cranial bone may therefore provide a suitable alternative to other autologous or alloplastic graft materials for reconstruction of the human mandibular condyle in nongrowing patients.