title: Alveolar ridge regeneration with equine spongy bone: a clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the case of localized ridge atrophy, a ridge augmentation procedure, with the use of bone substitutes and barrier membranes, may then be necessary.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was a clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical evaluation of an equine spongy bone in alveolar ridge augmentation procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients showing horizontal mandibular ridge defects participated in this study. A ridge augmentation was performed through an onlay apposition of equine bone covered by a titanium-reinforced membrane. After 6 months of healing, five bone cores from nonaugmented sites (control) and five from augmented sites (test) were retrieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In test sites, no postoperative complications occurred. Horizontal bone width increased from 24 to 37 mm. In control sites, the newly formed bone represented 33%, and in test sites, 35% of the total area. The mean value of the microvessel density was 25.6 +/- 3.425 per mm(2) in controls, while 33.3 +/- 2.5 vessels per mm(2) in the test sites were found (p < .05). Both groups showed a high intensity (++) of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the newly formed bone, while a low intensity (+) was found in the mature bone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Equine bone appeared to be biocompatible and to be associated with new vessel ingrowth. Within the limits of the small sample size, the present study indicated that equine bone could be used in mandibular ridge augmentations.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Danilo Alessio
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Di Stefano
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Artese
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iezzi
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piattelli
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pagnutti
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piccirilli
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perrotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000473:pathology; D002508:Cephalometry; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006253:Haversian System / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000473:pathology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods; D014025:Titanium; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D014025:Titanium; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase