Spontaneous regeneration of the mandible in a child. A sequel to partial avulsion as a result of a war injury.

A 7-year-old child sustained a severe avulsion injury to the left mandible leaving a 6 cm. gap. A Kirschner wire alone was used for immobilization and stabilization. Radiographs of the mandible 2 1/2 years later showed complete osteogenesis and solid bone formation over the Kirschner wire. The young age of the patient was definitely important in influencing this favourable result. The author's experience in older war injuries patients, using the same procedure, has shown no such bone formation. The source of osteogenesis is believed to be from mesenchymal cells of the soft tissue remaining in the gap. The theories pertaining to the source and mode of osteogenesis in this case are discussed.