Critical size defect in the canine mandible.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the minimum size defect in a canine mandible that would not spontaneously heal during the dog's natural life (the critical size defect).


METHODS
Sixteen adult female mongrel dogs underwent continuity resection on both sides of the mandible to create bilateral defects. In 8 dogs, mandibular defects ranging from 5 to 20 mm were created with periosteal resection. In the other 8 dogs, mandibular defects ranging from 30 to 60 mm were created preserving the periosteum. The dogs were then killed at 6 months and the defects examined using radiographs and histologic analysis.


RESULTS
When the periosteum was removed, mandibular defects greater than 15 mm failed to heal across the entire defect. However, when the periosteum was preserved, mandibular defects needed to be greater than 50 mm in order to fail to heal.


CONCLUSIONS
The critical size defect in a canine mandible model is 15 mm when the periosteum is removed and 50 mm when the periosteum is preserved.
Huh
Jin-Young
JY
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
Choi
Byung-Ho
BH
Kim
Byung-Young
BY
Lee
Seoung-Ho
SH
Zhu
Shi-Jiang
SJ
Jung
Jae-Hyung
JH
D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology*; D008338:Mandibular Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D010521:Periosteum / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D014945:Wound Healing