Intrauterine autogenous foetal bone transplantation for the repair of cleft-like defects in the mid-gestational sheep model.
OBJECTIVE
The success of intrauterine surgery in treating non-life-threatening malformations such as myelomeningocoele, has also renewed strong interest in using this technique for treating craniofacial malformations. Nevertheless, the only experimental cleft-like defect models known, are those concerning wound healing of soft tissues.


METHODS
Attempts were made to repair artificial cleft-like defects including transplantation of 11 autogenous foetal bone grafts from the iliac crest or ulna, and were randomly assigned to three study groups, using the mid-gestational sheep model. In a 4th study group, lyophilized collagen, a bone-regenerating bioresorbable implant material, was used to fill the alveolar defect.


RESULTS
In all groups, there was a slight degree of asymmetry and thinning of the lip. Radiological studies demonstrated a variable degree of abnormality of the maxilla, ranging from none to a mild deviation. Three-dimensional computer tomography, two-dimensional maximal intensity projection findings, and histological analysis confirmed bony healing of the alveolar cleft-like defect.


CONCLUSIONS
Intrauterine autogenous foetal bone transplantation for the repair of cleft-like defects in the sheep is feasible. This is a reliable and valuable model toward a possible clinical application for intrauterine treatment of clefts.
Papadopulos
Nikolaos A
NA
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany. n.papadopulos@lrz.tum.de
Papadopoulos
Moschos A
MA
Zeilhofer
Hans-Florian
HF
Boos
Heike
H
Henke
Julia
J
Erhardt
Wolf
W
Boettcher
Peter
P
Stolla
Rudolf
R
Kovacs
Laszlo
L
Biemer
Edgar
E
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000543:Alveoloplasty; D000818:Animals; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D005333:Fetus / Q000601:surgery*; D020883:Hysterotomy; D023421:Models, Animal; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012756:Sheep; D034561:Sheep, Domestic