The fate of pedicle osteocutaneous grafts in mandibulo-facial restoration.

To overcome some of the problems encountered in the repair of extensive composite defects of the head and neck, several means of transfering bone and soft tissue--while preserving the blood supply by means of a pedicle--have been clinically attempted. The superiority of pedicle osteocutaneous grafts compared to free grafts is demonstrated in a series of experiments in monkeys and dogs. Conventional and tetracycline labelled histological specimens, from animals sacrificed at intervals from two weeks to six months after grafting, illustrate the dynamic changes in the grafts. Pedicle supported grafts appeared superior to free grafts and partivipated actively in bone reconstruction.